Mayor: Springfield students will return Monday after cyberattack; phone lines expected to be restored

Mayor Sarno and Springfield Public Schools officials told reporters that recovery work after a cyberattack is advancing and that students will return to classrooms Monday.

"Our kids will be back in school Monday," Mayor Sarno said, adding that phone lines and other systems are being rebuilt. Assistant Superintendent Jose Escobano told reporters that phone lines "will be up by Monday with contingency plans," and that the district has engaged federal and state law enforcement in the investigation.

Superintendent Dr. Sonia Nannal sought to reassure families about instruction, saying the district had prepared alternatives if technology remains disrupted. "Technology will never replace a teacher," she said, and families should expect standard-aligned lessons delivered by educators using other resources if necessary.

Officials emphasized that nursing staff are reviewing records and that the district is prioritizing student safety and medical needs as part of the return-to-school plan. City and school IT teams were credited for around-the-clock recovery work and the mayor said backups and cloud functions are part of the restoration strategy.