Over the weekend, Jackson County ISD technology staff detected suspicious activity determined to be the result of a ransomware incident. Immediately upon discovering this activity, we proactively took systems offline in order to contain the incident. We have engaged external cybersecurity advisors to assist in the safe restoration of our systems and to investigate. We have also contacted law enforcement.
Given the system disruption to classroom technology, we made the difficult decision to close schools today, Monday, November 14, 2022. Our teams are working around the clock to bring systems back up in a safe and secure manner. We will provide an operating status update later today. At this time, we continue to ask everyone to refrain from using any school-issued devices.
We understand the inconvenience this is causing our students and appreciate your patience as we work to resolve this situation. Student and staff data security is a top priority for the Jackson County ISD and the districts it serves. Our investigation is ongoing and we will provide additional updates as they become available. ~Kevin Oxley, Superintendent, Jackson County ISD