A suspected cyberattack disrupted work email, internet access, Google Drive and other applications at Oceanside Unified School District in California as officials investigated and worked to restore service.
The district confirmed a computer network disruption but did not identify its cause. NC Pipeline reported that a separate district text described the incident as a cyberattack.
In a message to teachers, Superintendent Julie Vitale said the district had “identified an incident that disrupted the use of our network” and was working with cybersecurity experts to investigate and restore service.
The disruption came days before Oceanside High School registration was scheduled to begin Aug. 3 and less than two weeks before classes were set to begin Aug. 13. The district serves 15,000 students across 21 schools and an adult transition program and employs 1,912 people.
A separate notice to some employees said administrators expected the network to remain down for the rest of the week. It said staff could not access email, the internet or programs delivered through ClassLink, a portal that provides a single login for multiple school applications.
Donald Bendz, the district’s communications director, told NC Pipeline that the district was working with its technology staff and third-party forensic specialists. He said the investigation was ongoing and the district could not provide further details.
Citing unidentified district sources, NC Pipeline reported that response work began July 24 and that the FBI had been contacted. The FBI declined to comment to the outlet.
Chip in once
If this reporting helped you, a one-time tip helps cover hosting, tools and future investigations.
Support us monthly
A small monthly pledge keeps independent coverage and our reader tools online for everyone.
NC Pipeline, also citing unidentified district sources, reported concerns about registration and payroll. The district had not confirmed disruptions to either.
Similar incidents have complicated preparations for the new school year elsewhere. Newton County Schools in Georgia took affected systems offline days before classes were scheduled to begin but used workarounds to keep open houses on schedule. Sumner County Schools in Tennessee postponed registration and delayed the first day of classes by six days after discovering unauthorized network access.
Oceanside Unified said it would provide an update as more information became available. As of Friday, the district had not provided a full restoration timeline or said whether any data was accessed.
The district did not respond to DysruptionHub’s request for comment. DysruptionHub found no public claim of responsibility as of publication.
