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A cybersecurity incident in the region's largest school district canceled Monday's classes, with officials unsure if school would resume on Tuesday.
Traverse City Area Public Schools families received an email from Superintendent John VanWagoner and a recorded message from the district at 8 p.m. Saturday notifying them that "a network disruption impacted the functionality and access of certain systems."
Upon discovery, TCAPS officials disconnected network access and engaged a cybersecurity firm to "secure the environment" and determine the scope of the breach, according to the statement.
"Protecting the integrity of our systems and the information we maintain is critically important to us," VanWagoner said. "While we already have robust measures in place to protect against these types of incidents, we are committed to taking additional steps to further enhance our safeguards moving forward."
Officials canceled classes April 1, citing the ongoing forensic investigation, and the potential to cancel Tuesday is "unknown at this time," VanWagoner said. The district would update families Sunday night or Monday, he said.
When reached Saturday, VanWagoner reiterated that the district was "working with our third-party cybersecurity team, insurance company and law enforcement to get everything back up and running as soon as possible."
TCAPS Board President Scott Newman-Bale declined to comment, and TCAPS spokeswoman Ginger Smith wanted to make sure that families knew that Monday's canceled classes wasn't part of an April Fool's Day prank.
The cancellation extends TCAPS spring break, which began March 22.
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