Pinal County schools affected by ransomware attack
Employees of several school districts in Pinal County might experience a delay in their payday this Friday, possibly due to a cyberattack.
A communication from Jill Broussard, the Pinal County Superintendent of Schools, indicated that the Pinal County School Office Data Processing Consortium encountered a Ransomware attack over the weekend.
While there’s no indication of sensitive data being compromised, the office took precautionary steps by temporarily suspending electronic fund transfers and direct deposits.
Correspondence from the Maricopa Unified School District highlighted potential delays in paycheck distribution if the system required for processing the checks wasn’t reinstated promptly.
Although the system is now operational, teachers are still awaiting their pay.
Earlier in the week, Pinal County alerted staff about possible disruptions in direct deposit services due to a data loss incident at the Pinal County Schools Office.
Employees were informed that paper checks would be issued, but the MUSD notified its staff on Thursday of potential delays in paper check distributions.
Dr. Tracey Lopeman, superintendent for MUSD, assured, “We’re doing everything possible to ensure that paychecks are distributed as soon as possible.”
Confirming the impact on payroll processing, the Pinal County School Superintendent’s Office assured checks would be printed for several affected districts.
Efforts are underway to communicate pickup procedures once the checks are available, aiming to minimize inconvenience.
CBS26 has reached out to the Maricopa Unified School District to gather more information and details on other potentially affected districts.
Lopeman expressed regret over the stress caused by the situation and hoped for a swift resolution to ensure employees receive their due compensation promptly.
