The wireless bandwagon is rolling across Mississippi, picking up a fresh load of converts and turning calamity into opportunity. Traditional wired school networks, many of which unraveled during Hurricane Katrina, are giving way to advanced wireless mesh networks that frequently include voice-over-IP (VoIP) capabilities. Vendor funding is helping to drive the wireless cause in the region. Cisco Systems Inc. is donating about $40 million's worth of wireless networking gear and related services over three years to help rebuild Gulf Coast schools. Though the impetus for the introduction of wireless networking in the Gulf was a unique set of circumstances, the conversion to wireless is certainly not exclusive to the region. It is taking root in school districts throughout the US. The two biggest trends in wireless school networks involve mesh systems and VoIP convergence. When deploying wireless voice, schools should choose an infrastructure that supports SIP (session initiation protocol) trunking, which allows them to mix and match vendors; sufficient RF (radio frequency) coverage to ensure 802.11 wireless phones work in all designated areas; and load balancing among access points to ensure voice and data traffic is spread equally over the system. Schools should also keep a close eye on the 802.11e standard, which addresses quality of service for voice and other types of wireless traffic.