A ransomware attack discovered Thursday forced Oneonta City School District in New York to cancel classes Friday and Monday while its technology team worked to contain unauthorized access.
The district initially believed it was dealing with internal technology problems before discovering the attack, WKTV reported, citing a release from Superintendent Thomas F. Brindley. Its technology team took steps to limit further unauthorized access and potential damage.
Brindley identified the incident as ransomware in a letter to parents, The Daily Star reported. Local, state and federal authorities are investigating, the newspaper said.
Schools will be closed to students and staff Friday. Employees will report to their buildings Monday to prepare for students’ return.
“We just need time to sort this out, and we'll be ready to greet our kids back to school on Tuesday,” Brindley told The Daily Star.
The class cancellations affect a district with five schools and about 1,700 students in the 2024-25 school year, according to National Center for Education Statistics records.
Some regional education programs will continue during the closures. Students enrolled in full-day programs through New York’s Board of Cooperative Educational Services, which provides shared services to school districts, will attend Friday and Monday. Those enrolled in morning or afternoon programs will not, according to the reports.
Athletic events and practices will continue as scheduled on both days.
The instructional disruption follows another school cyberattack reported in Idaho this week. Jerome School District canceled Monday and Tuesday classes after its communications and networks went offline.
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Neither Oneonta report identifies an attacker or establishes whether information was stolen or a ransom was demanded or paid.
Brindley declined to discuss which data was affected, The Daily Star reported. The district had yet to determine the attack’s full extent or its operational consequences, according to WKTV.
For now, Oneonta is preparing to bring students back Tuesday while the scope of the compromise remains unresolved.
