Kearney school district hit by cyberattack

Kearney Public Schools says it was hit by a cyberattack Friday.

A note posted to the school district’s website Sunday said it was still trying to recover from the attack and did not expect to have systems up and running by Monday.

“As a result, school phones, computers, and other network-dependent systems will be unavailable,” the note said.

School was still in session Monday, though the district said that digital tools would be unavailable until the network is restored. The district also said anyone who needs to contact a school should do so in person.

“We understand this may cause inconvenience and appreciate your patience and support as we work through this situation,” the note said. “Please know that the safety and security of our students, staff, and data remain our highest priorities.”

In a Sunday post on the Kearney Public Schools Facebook page, Superintendent Jason Mundorf said the incident was not a ransomware attack and it also did not compromise any safety systems, such as secure door locks or fire suppression.

“We would never jeopardize the safety of our students and staff for a single day of instruction,” he said in the post.

Mundorf also said that the attack did not compromise systems used for student information, payroll or finance.

“We are hopeful to return to normal system functionality by Tuesday,” he said in the post. “We understand the concerns this situation brings, and we appreciate your patience and partnership. Our primary focus right now is restoring our systems and maintaining a safe, functional learning environment for our students.”