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Dr. Bradley: Newton County Schools investigating suspected unauthorized network access; middle school open house to proceed with adjustments
Summary
Newton County Schools detected suspicious activity that "appears to be consistent with unauthorized network access." The district says it has contained the activity, engaged the FBI and Georgia Department of Education, and will run middle school open houses tomorrow with alternative scheduling procedures.
Dr. Bradley, speaking for Newton County Schools, announced that the district detected suspicious activity in portions of its network and that, "based on information currently available and after consultation with our technology and cybersecurity partners, the activity appears to be consistent with unauthorized network access." He said the technology team detected the activity earlier the same day and immediately moved to contain it and preserve network integrity.
The district has engaged its internal IT staff "alongside the FBI, the Georgia Department of Education, legal counsel, cybersecurity specialists, and other partners with expertise in incident response," Dr. Bradley said. He added the district is "working to determine the source, scope, and impact of this incident so that systems can be restored safely and responsibly." No further technical details or affected system lists were provided in the announcement.
Officials emphasized continuity of operations and safety: "our highest priorities remain the safety and well-being of our students and employees, maintaining the continuity of our operations, and preparing for a successful opening to the school year," Dr. Bradley said. The district reported it had taken containment steps and launched a comprehensive investigation; he said confirmed information will be shared as it becomes available.
As a near-term operational effect, Dr. Bradley said "middle school open house will proceed as scheduled tomorrow with some adjustments due to our current inability to access student schedules through the district network. School staff will be available to welcome families and provide alternative processes to ensure a positive experience." He said updates about elementary and high school open houses will be provided when available and the district would continue to communicate openly as investigators and technical staff confirm more information.
Dr. Bradley closed by thanking families and staff for patience and support and by expressing confidence in the district's ability to manage the incident. The announcement did not specify which exact systems or student records, if any, were affected, nor did it provide a timetable for full restoration.
