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Board discusses heating outages tied to ransomware and mechanical failures; plans clearer parent messages
Summary
Superintendent Jeff told the board the district's recent heating outages stemmed from a ransomware incident that initially locked out HVAC controls and later from separate mechanical failures; the board asked communications staff to issue a short, official update to parents and re-evaluate conditions early the next morning.
Superintendent Jeff reported on ongoing heating problems that have forced some virtual days and prompted community concern.
Jeff told the board the district has encountered multiple, distinct failures: an initial ransomware incident that disrupted access to the HVAC control server and later mechanical issues such as a frozen or burst coil. "We can go virtual and not have to tag a bunch of days on the end of the year," he said, noting that remote instruction allowed the district flexibility while repairs are made. He explained licensing and access delays for the HVAC control system that followed the server rebuild.
Board members said confusion in public messaging had compounded community concern and urged a concise, official release to parents explaining the current status and the plan to re-evaluate conditions at 5:30 a.m. the next day. Communications lead Bob agreed to draft a short statement for distribution via the district's channels (app, text, email and Facebook). The board emphasized transparency but also cautioned against excessive messaging that could overwhelm recipients.
Members discussed technical remediation (HVAC licensing, on-site repairs) and administrative follow-ups (clear timelines for communication and who will be the contact). Staff said they would return with updates on repairs and any required follow-up work.
