Uvalde CISD approves emergency pay and traded leave for staff who mitigated ransomware closure

The Uvalde CISD board approved compensation measures for employees who worked during an emergency closure caused by a ransomware incident in September 2025.

Administration said the district closed for several days (09/15–09/19/2025) after a ransomware incident on 09/12/2025 and some hourly and support staff were required to report to work to mitigate the emergency. The recommendation, consistent with board policy DEA local, provided time‑and‑a‑half pay for nonexempt employees who performed mitigation duties and regular pay or traded off‑duty time for others.

Superintendent Colas said exempt employees who were required to work during the closure will have hours converted to traded off‑duty time rather than receive overtime pay because those were days they otherwise would have been off under their contract. The board approved the emergency pay proposal by a recorded vote (3–2) and asked administration to document hours worked and submit required claims to the district’s insurance provider for recovery.

Trustees discussed equity concerns about compensating some employees while teachers and other staff who routinely work outside contract hours are not always paid extra. The administration said the proposal targeted employees who worked during a specific emergency closure and that standard contract obligations for teachers and other exempt employees remain. Several trustees asked for clear documentation of who worked, hours claimed and the process for insurance reimbursement.

The board authorized the compensation and directed staff to compile documentation to support an insurance claim and to return with final accounting.