We’ve come a long way with our computing environment. One of the biggest changes was implementing VMware. Now every class has wireless, the infrastructure to support it, and we have the bandwidth capacity to provide centralized systems at our district office that supply all our sites.
John Castillo
Senior Network Engineer, SMMUSD
About Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District (SMMUSD)
Headquartered in the diverse seaside communities of Santa Monica and Malibu, the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District is home to several elementary, middle, and high schools. The district also operates eleven early childhood education centers and an adult school, which provide vulnerable students the opportunity to receive adequate learning and stimulation.
A core vision of SMMUSD focuses on closing the achievement gap between students, through modernization and the provision of technology that transforms the education landscape. Acknowledging there is a growing demand for science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM), SMMUSD wanted to take steps to ensure its schools had the tools required today to prepare both current and future students to be college and career ready.
- 11,000 Students
- 17 Sites
- Robust Career Programs
Industry: Education
The Challenge: Modernizing Classroom Technology Without Overburdening IT Staff
SMMUSD’s IT team faced multiple challenges managing technology across 17 sites:
- Existing network and infrastructure upgrades did not fully meet district-wide connectivity and performance needs.
- Limited IT staff struggled to deploy new software and programs requested by teachers and administrators.
- Non-centralized systems created inefficiencies and increased maintenance burdens.
The district needed a solution that would modernize classrooms, streamline IT operations, and provide a scalable foundation to support current and future technology initiatives.
How Meridian IT Helped SMMUSD Identify Needs and Recommend Scalable VMware Solutions
Meridian IT partnered with SMMUSD to understand its unique requirements and opportunities for modernization. Anthony Schubert, Director of Sales, collaborated with the district’s IT team to assess infrastructure challenges, staffing limitations, and classroom technology goals.
Leveraging VMware expertise, Meridian IT proposed virtualization and centralized management solutions designed to:
- Improve performance and availability across the district’s infrastructure
- Automate management of virtual machines to reduce staff workload
- Provide scalable platforms to support future classroom initiatives and BYOD programs
- Ensure disaster recovery and data protection across mission-critical applications
Solution: Deploying VMware to Modernize Classrooms and Centralize IT Operations
Meridian IT implemented VMware solutions to create a modern, reliable, and scalable IT environment across SMMUSD:
- vSphere with Operations Management — Enabled real-time monitoring, better insights, and optimized performance across all sites.
- vCenter Server — Provided centralized management and automation for the district’s virtual infrastructure.
- Site Recovery Manager Disaster Recovery — Protected up to 75 mission-critical virtual machines, ensuring continuity in failover scenarios.
- VMware Horizon View — Delivered a consistent experience for 350 users across kiosks, labs, and remote staff devices.
The deployment was completed efficiently and integrated seamlessly into the district’s existing Nutanix-based architecture, giving IT staff more agility, simplified management, and the ability to scale resources for future growth.
Results: Enabling Seamless Technology Access for Students and Staff
Meridian IT’s partnership transformed SMMUSD’s IT environment, empowering teachers, students, and IT staff alike.
Results at a glance:
- Enhanced Classroom Technology — Reliable wireless and bandwidth in every classroom supports digital learning and STEM programs.
- Centralized IT Management — IT staff can manage infrastructure efficiently, freeing time for strategic initiatives.
- Future-Ready Infrastructure — The district can adopt new software, implement disaster recovery, and expand BYOD programs confidently.
- Empowered IT Staff — Teams respond faster to requests and support educational programs without overextending resources.
- Proactive Technology Roadmap — Ongoing guidance ensures infrastructure evolves with student and classroom needs.
“We’ve moved on from just maintaining our systems to now offering services and capabilities that people may have not even been aware of.”
— John Castillo, Senior Network Engineer, SMMUSD
