SPOKANE, Wash – Spokane Schools is dealing with a network security incident and has taken several programs offline, including PowerSchool.
Monday, the district sent a note to families saying SPS “was the subject of a network security incident.”
“Out of an abundance of caution, we have chosen to take several of our systems offline,” the email said. “As a result, families may experience some service disruptions when requesting information from teachers or staff.”
The district sent a second note Tuesday, saying “certain systems remain offline as a precaution while the incident is investigated.”
SPS did not name which platform was impacted, but students and parents noticed PowerSchool was not updating or couldn’t be accessed. Swinyard confirmed to reporters Tuesday that PowerSchool is one of the impacted programs.
PowerSchool is a software used by K-12 schools around the world. In part, it allows teachers to input attendance, assignments and grades. Parents also access the program to check their students’ performance.
The platform has had security issues in the past, but the district says it’s too early in the investigation to determine which programs might be impacted and how.
Tuesday, Spokane Schools Superintendent Adam Swinyard said the district brought in a third-party expert to investigate.
The district said when the security issue was identified, critical systems that include payroll/student information were quarantined and will remain so while the investigation continues.
Swinyard said the district identified specific individuals who were impacted and have contacted them.
“We’ll know more as our technical expert works through their protocol,” Swinyard said. “When or if there’s any risk to student information, we’ll always communicate that out to families so they can be prepared.”
Swinyard said for now, teachers are doing things manually that they would otherwise do with PowerSchool.
“These types of incidences have a vast continuum in their scope, so it’s important that we not speculate what it could be,” he said. “We’re always going to operate with an abundance of caution.”
Swinyard said it’s very early in the investigation and that it might be “quite some time” before the district knows the scope of the impact.
A spokesperson from PowerSchool said in a statement: “We are aware that Spokane Public Schools is investigating a network incident and are working closely with the district as it assesses the situation. Because the investigation is ongoing and questions regarding the scope, impact, and any affected systems are best addressed by the district, we would refer you to Spokane Public Schools for additional details.”
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