Parent presses SAISD for details after $26,000 charge tied to phishing incident; district says investigation ongoing

A San Angelo parent pressed trustees Tuesday for more information about a phishing incident and a $26,000 charge appearing on the district’s purchase orders. “If it was a nonissue, you wouldn’t have spent $26,000,” said Virgil Paccetti, who identified himself as a concerned father and asked whether the cost was a retainer or ransom and what data, if any, was exposed.

Paccetti asked the board to explain the root cause and what information might have been compromised; he noted the district holds data for about 12,000 students and asked whether families should be worried about identity or credit impacts when students turn 18.

During the finance and audit report, a district representative explained the district has cyber liability insurance and has engaged a firm contracted by the insurer to investigate the phishing event. “We’re in the middle of that investigation right now,” the staff member said, and staff pledged to bring findings back to the board when available. The district also posted parent notices about the incident on its website, the staff member said.

The board did not take formal action on the matter Tuesday; the parent urged clearer communication and faster disclosure of what was learned from the investigation.

The article presents public comment and the district’s summary of its current investigatory steps; it does not assert details about the investigation beyond what district staff described at the meeting.