Manassas City Public Schools in Virginia will close Monday after a weekend cybersecurity incident caused phone and connectivity outages, the superintendent said, as IT staff and outside experts work to secure and restore systems.
Superintendent Kevin Newman told families in a Nov. 9 letter that the incident is under investigation and that the district is working with outside cybersecurity experts. Officials said there is no risk to physical campus security.
“While the physical security of our campuses is not in jeopardy, we are experiencing connectivity disruptions and phone outages across the district,” Newman wrote.
All schools will be closed Monday, Nov. 10, to allow restoration work. Tuesday, Nov. 11, is a scheduled holiday. The district plans to reopen Wednesday, Nov. 12, barring new developments, officials said.
Local reports noted districtwide phone and network disruptions and the precautionary closure. Families were urged to monitor official district channels for updates.
Manassas City Public Schools serves the independent city of Manassas in Northern Virginia and operates nine schools.
Elsewhere in Virginia, Halifax County Public Schools reported a cyber incident last month and cut internet access as a precaution. Earlier this year, Manassas Park City Schools reported a ransomware attack and data exposure. There is no indication the incidents are related.
