Mecklenburg schools report cyberattack; operations continue with contingency plans

Mecklenburg County Schools reported to the Board of Supervisors that the division is responding to an ongoing cybersecurity incident that has disrupted access to the district's computer systems, but instruction has continued using paper-based methods while law enforcement and the county's insurer investigate.

Superintendent (presentation) told the board that the school division could not discuss details because the matter is under active investigation by state and federal agencies and that the county's cyber insurance carrier is involved. He credited the division's technology staff, led in the meeting by Josh Kempner and Ron Goodman, for working nights and weekends to restore services.

At the meeting the superintendent reported that, as of Aug. 18, the division's enrollment across elementary, middle and high schools was about 3,840 students, a figure he said was higher than budget projections. He said first-day enrollment was roughly 100 students lower than expected but that numbers rose by about 105 students within a week.

The superintendent said the division's contingency plans kept instruction moving: teachers reverted to "old-school" methods while IT staff addressed the incident. He said the county had cyber insurance (named in the presentation) and that the matter remains under criminal investigation.

Board members expressed support for the schools and directed staff to continue coordination with law enforcement and the county IT team. No statutory citations or policy changes were announced during the report.

The board thanked the school staff for the opening-of-school work under difficult circumstances; the superintendent closed by acknowledging the work of custodial, transportation and instructional staff during the start of the school year.