Springfield to Reopen Schools Monday After Closing Them Due to Cyber Attack

Public school students in Springfield, Massachusetts have been told they can return to their schools on Monday, September 14 after the schools were closed on Tuesday due to a cyber incident.

According to Mayor Domenic J. Sarno and school officials, an outside group gained access to the public school system’s network and blocked the district’s ability to access certain third party online programs including student medical records, transportation and food services, and certain educational tools.

This cyber activity has been classified as a Level 4 incident, which is severe enough to warrant involvement of federal, state, and local law enforcement. The FBI, Massachusetts State Police and local police along with city and school IT staff and technology specialists are collaborating on containment, system restoration and investigation efforts.

Investigators and officials have not confirmed whether a ransom demand has been made, nor have they identified the specific threat actors behind the attack. They have stressed that containment efforts and the investigation are ongoing.

The city said IT staff noticed some “red flags” last week and the disruptions “elevated to malicious cyber traffic” by last Saturday evening.

Officials said they closed schools starting Tuesday out of an “abundance of caution” for the safety of students, faculty and staff. They expressed particular concern over the district’s inability to access student medical records. Without access to that medical program, nurses cannot access information to dispense medications or address allergies and other health issues.

Students and families have been asked to stay off school networks and avoid using any district-issued laptops to prevent further spread of malware.

When they get back to class, students may experience a world more like one their parents know. “Instruction does not rest solely with technology and we will move forward even in absence of some of our tools,” said Dr. Sonia E. Dinall, the city’s superintendent of schools.

The school officials told parents that if needed, teachers will resort to “books, notebooks, pencils and paper” for instruction when schools reopen while technology teaching tools are being restored.

Mayor Domenic J. Sarno condemned those he called “cyberattack hackers” and blasted individuals looking to “cause havoc, especially to students

The city’s school district is the second largest in the state. Its 66 public schools serve about 27,000 students.

Photo: Springfield, Mass. Mayor Domenic J. Sarno walks towards city’s Washington School for a meeting in 2022. City photo.