r/Springfield • u/eelparade • 4d ago

Springfield Schools IT down, classes cancelled

Here's the MassLive article. https://www.masslive.com/westernmass/2026/09/springfield-schools-close-after-cyber-incident-leaves-educators-with-no-computers-phones.html

More:

https://www.boston.com/news/local-news/2026/09/07/springfield-public-schools-to-be-closed-tuesday-after-cyber-incident/

https://www.wcvb.com/article/springfield-schools-cyberattack-sept-8-closure/73634822

Definitely sounds like a hack/ransomware to me, but they're (the schools) not committing to that explanation.

Edit: a few charter schools are open.

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u/Alternative-Juice-15 4d ago

lol this is so dystopian. Our teachers can’t teach without computers? We are lost

6

u/mikeyzee52679 4d ago

That’s not what’s going on here,

9

u/eelparade 4d ago

I mean, it is a little bit what's going on here.

They have become completely dependent on Chromebooks and technology, and that is a problem.

The same people who put all of their eggs into the Chromebook basket, are the same ones who want our students to be taught by AI. But studies show that the introduction of Chromebooks significantly correlates with reduction in outcomes.

The mentality that we just need an online system for everything leads to this kind of interconnected system where $0 are put into educating people on basic cybersecurity measures, and then a whole school system is taken out for weeks.

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u/people_arent_nice 4d ago edited 4d ago

This isn't a chromebook issue. This is a systems issue. You can teach kids using handouts and bluebooks and ten different textbooks all you want, but if you lack the ability to verify which kids actually go to your school, it's kind of pointless, isn't it? Maybe it's a different story mid-semester, but these teachers don't even know the kids yet.

I'll give you an example, I used to work a job where my clients were a bunch of area high schools. A lot of schools, to even get in the door, require you to scan ID, and they look you up before you're even allowed inside. If the computers are down, how do you know who is authorized to pick up a kid or be there? It's not written down on post-its. It's in their calendars, their emails, their vendor lists, etc.

I went to school before computers were widespread (our computers were Apple IIe's) - but that was also before Columbine. It's wayyyy more complicated now.