The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has informed Springfield (Massachusetts) Public Schools that the district’s data has been breached as a result of the recent cyberattack that closed schools last week.
The breach appears to include staff and student information. The full extent of the information breached and where the information has been leaked remains under investigation, officials said.
The FBI ssd it is possible that the breached information could include Social Security numbers for staff, though that is not confirmed. The city said schools do not typically include student Social Security information in students’ data files.
“Our priority remains supporting those who may be affected and working with our partners to understand the full scope of this incident. The district remains in close communication with state and federal law enforcement, legal teams, and cyber forensics experts,” the school district said in announcing the FBI update.
The district said it has been expediting access to free credit monitoring services for all district personnel and staff will be notified on how to sign up as soon as it becomes available.
School Reopen
Students in the western Massachusetts community returned to their schools on Monday, September 14. Schools were closed last Tuesday for the week due to the 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.
Officials said they closed schools 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 because that could prevent nurses from accessing information needed to dispense medications or address allergies and address other health issues.
Officials told parents that, if needed, teachers will resort to “books, notebooks, pencils and paper” for instruction while technology teaching tools are being restored.
The FBI, Massachusetts State Police and local police along with city and school IT staff and technology specialists have been working 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. Mayor Sarno has vowed that he will not negotiate any ransom.
Students and families have been asked to stay off school networks and avoid using any district-issued laptops to prevent further spread of malware.
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.
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