MA (WGGB/WSHM) — Springfield Public Schools are set to reopen Monday after a nine-day shutdown caused by a cyberattack, with teachers returning to classrooms Friday to prepare for students and counselors expected to be available to help them cope
The district’s information technology crews are still working to restore systems. Superintendent Dr. Sonia Dinnall said the shutdown may have affected students emotionally, as well as disrupting school operations.
“One of the members of cabinet shared that her son…just happened to overhear a little bit of our conversation about what’s going on…and she mentioned that he had a nightmare and so, we are just mindful of the fact that our children may be impacted by this in a very real way,” Dinnall explained.
Counselors will be available Monday. Without full access to technology, teachers are preparing to use basic classroom tools as students return.
Sixth-grade English teacher Jordan Cree said the situation gives teachers an opportunity to model resilience for students.
“We preach resilience to our students all the time. So, getting an opportunity to demonstrate that in real time, that it’s not just something that we say, but it’s something that we’re actively doing, I think, was very important…It recommits you when you start looking at things differently and, like, do you actually have the resolve to hop into the educational seat and say, I need to change these things for my kids,” Cree said.
The FBI is investigating the cyberattack. The city is tallying the costs and Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno said the city will not pay a ransom.
“We’re not going to expend a dime to these negative entities. The money goes to students in our schools. So, there’s no honor among thieves and we’re not going to become an ATM here,” Sarno said.
The district’s nursing platform is back online, making student health records accessible again.
The district is also reviewing the school calendar and may reclaim days during Christmas vacation to make up for time lost during the shutdown.
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