The Kyrene School District is in the process of switching over to a more reliable phone system to alleviate issues that begun to spring up with a 15-year-old system.

The new system is being set up at all 26 schools, as well as the district office in Tempe. The telephone numbers will be changing in the process and individual schools will be sending home notes to inform families of the changes.

The new phone system will save the district approximately $2,800 per month by using data cables to electronically connect the schools and district, instead of using standard telephone lines.

The school district will pay for the overhaul with funding approved by voters in 2005 when they passed Capital Bond and Budget Override funds. It is part of the district’s Captial Improvement Plan, which repairs and upgrades district buildings.

Kyrene spokeswoman Nancy Dudenhoefer said that district schools have been having problems with the old system for some time, including times when an entire school’s system would shut down for sometimes a full day, not allowing for parents to get a hold of the school’s office.

“We have multiple, consistent, ongoing telephone issues at a variety of schools,” she said.

That includes missing messages at the district office, Dudenhoefer said.

Schools will have their numbers changed one at a time over the course of the next few months. The new number for the district is (480) 541-1000.

• Contact writer: (480) 898-4903 or troemhild@ahwatukee.com