Halifax County, Virginia schools probe cyber incident; internet cut as precaution

Halifax County Public Schools said it is investigating a cyber incident first identified by its IT team and has shut down some systems, including internet access at school facilities, as a precaution. The division reported the event on Facebook in yesterday, saying it activated its incident response plan, engaged outside cybersecurity experts, and notified law enforcement. The district emphasized that buildings remained open and physical security was not affected. The incident involves campuses in Halifax and South Boston, Virginia. 

Officials said restoring systems and confirming the source of the incident are priorities, and they pledged to update the community as more is learned. Halifax County Public Schools serves roughly 10 schools—seven elementary schools, one middle school, one high school, an early learning center, and a STEM academy—under Superintendent Dr. Amy D. Huskin. The division counts about 4,500 students and serves the towns of South Boston and Halifax. The response aligns with wider K–12 trends in Virginia following a year of elevated school-sector cyber activity statewide.