Springfield Public Schools Superintendent Sonia Dinnall speaks about the cyber incident that locked educators out of school systems beginning Sept. 1.
Reminding Publishing photo by Sarah Heinonen
SPRINGFIELD — The investigation into the cyber incident that affected the city’s schools over the past week is ongoing, according to Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno, who was backed by Springfield Public Schools Superintendent Sonia Dinnall and members of the School Department leadership at press conferences on Sept. 8 and Sept. 10.
School personnel have been locked out of access to third-party platforms and vendors, including the medical information system, transportation and food services. Dinnall said Springfield schools were closed throughout the week of Sept. 8. She explained that without the ability to verify which students need medicine or have food allergies or health issues, it was unsafe to open schools. The city’s overall digital infrastructure had seen no evidence of malicious attacks, Sarno said.
The cyber incident was determined to be a level four threat, which Sarno described as “severe.” He was adamant that the city could not release some information so as not to endanger the investigation. The city is working with different levels of law enforcement, including the Federal Bureau of Investigations. “The investigation continues,” Sarno said several times in lieu of giving specific information. At the second press conference, however, while the mayor did not explicitly confirm that the cyber attack was one of ransomware, he said, “Money. Money goes to our kids, not these individuals or these groups.”
The School Department’s information technology personnel first noticed “malicious traffic” on the school systems on Sept. 1. Chief Information Officer Robert St. Lawrence said the cyber incidence response plan was immediately initiated. The IT department spent the next few days identifying, containing and eradicating threats. Initially, the School Department was unsure of the nature and scope of the problem, but by the end of the day on Friday, Sept. 4, it had a full understanding of the situation. It was then that they sent out the first communication to Springfield families.
Sarno said he stood by the School Department’s decision not to inform families for several days after the issue was first noticed. He said the schools and the city have been able to defeat many such cyberattacks before they could impact software and computer systems. “We don’t want to alarm anybody,” Sarno said.
Sarno said the systems are being restored, and School Department personnel have been “working around the clock” to reestablish access. Schools were scheduled to open on Monday, Sept. 14, Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum, Instruction and Professional Development Terry Powe said that, if needed, the schools would rely on books, pen and paper, rather than tablets and laptops.
The superintendent said she had heard rumors that the schools were closed because teachers had become so reliant on technology they could not teach without it. “I debunked that rumor,” Dinall said. “Our teachers don’t need technology to teach. They know how to teach.” She added, “Students will receive standard-aligned, rogorous lessons on Monday because our teachers are prepared. Sarno echoed those sentiments, saying, “Teaching is teaching. It’s in the head, heart, soul and gut of our teachers.”
To ensure students reach the 180-days of instruction required by the state, the School Committee will consider shortening the winter break, Dinnall said.
Dinnall said communication with families and staff had been “smooth.” The department had reached out to families using email and social media, as well as text messaging through the newly rolled-out Edia platform. Assistant Superintendent of Community Engagement, Family Empowerment and Partnerships José Escribano said the department leadership team sent 14,000 text messages on Sept. 7 explaining to parents the reason for the school closure and steps the department is taking to reopen. Class Dojo, a platform commonly used by elementary students, is also being used to communicate with families. The superintendent said the response from families has been “largely positive.”
Dinnall thanked Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center and the Acorn Street Boys & Girls Club for opening their doors to students. Without being asked, Dinnall said, “They adjusted their hours, they called in their staff. They made sure that parents had support when it came to childcare. We know parents have to work.”
The School Department also received support from the state, University of Masssachusetts Amherst and Western New England University.
“Unfortunately, this is the new warfare: cyber. From the federal level on down to the state level and the local level, we have to continue to be aware of it and deal with it,” sarno said. However, he assured residents, “We will get through this.”
Editor’s note: This story has been updated to include information from a Sept. 10 press conference.
