A cyber incident forced Springfield Public Schools to cancel classes, abruptly disrupting instruction, after-school programs, and routine communication for students, families, and staff in one of Massachusetts' largest cities.
Springfield — a city of more than 155,000 residents, according to CBS News, and 24,000 students, according to MassLive — is set to see schools closed for the rest of this week, after initially closing on Sept. 8.
Here's what to know
Superintendent Sonia Dinnall announced on Sept. 7 that schools would be closing the following day because a cyber incident disrupted systems the district relies on for essential operations.
The district said the central office will remain open but that phone lines and some other services could be affected.
It also canceled after-school activities.
What's being done?
As investigators examine what happened and how broad the disruption may be, district officials told employees not to use district network systems and students not to use school-issued laptops.
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Dinnall said the closure would also give administrators time to set up alternatives to certain systems, such as attendance reporting, according to CBS.
"The decision to close schools is not made lightly," Dinnall said in a statement. "The most important consideration will always be the health and safety of those inside our school buildings. We simply are not willing to risk any lapse in that."
The Springfield School Committee held an emergency meeting on Sept. 9, and the district announced that all schools will remain closed until Sept. 14, "until the security threat has been cleared," according to Western Mass News.
Where can I learn more?
What's happening in Springfield is just one issue affecting youth across the state and the country. To learn more about how topics like campus safety, student health, and disaster preparedness are affecting young people, take a look at these stories:
• In Massachusetts, lawmakers are weighing a nicotine sales ban for future generations.
• At schools across the U.S., administrators are cracking down on vaping as health concerns grow.
• Former FEMA Youth Preparedness Council members have continued disaster-readiness advocacy even after the program's termination.
These examples point to just a few of the pressures school leaders are juggling across the U.S.
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