A “cybersecurity incident” caused the Mars Area School District to shut down parts of its internet Tuesday afternoon, according to a letter sent to families by the district.
In a statement, Mars Area Superintendent Mark Gross and Assistant Superintendent Elizabeth McMahon said the district’s phone system was unaffected and various online programs could still be reached from outside the district. However, the district does not have access to its Internet network or its e-mail.
“Upon becoming aware of this issue, our district’s administrative and technology team immediately launched an investigation and is currently working closely with external cybersecurity professionals in an effort to recover all of our data,” the statement said. “While we are working to restore all systems as soon as possible, please be aware that it may take several days to regain full functionality on all systems.”
The school will remain in session while the district works on the matter, according to the statement.
“At this time, there is no evidence that student or employee records have been compromised or are at risk,” the statement said. “Our district takes this situation very seriously and we appreciate your patience and understanding as we work through this issue. As additional information becomes available, we will let you know.”
