Officials: Freehold Township schools expected to reopen Tuesday following ‘cybersecurity incident’

School Superintendent Neal Dickstein wrote in a letter to parents that the initial phase of restoring all the computer systems is complete.

News 12 Staff

Jan 29, 2024, 3:09 AM

Updated 317 days ago

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Eight of Freehold Township’s public schools are expected to reopen on Tuesday after being closed on Monday following what officials are calling a “cybersecurity incident.”
School Superintendent Neal Dickstein wrote in a letter to parents that the initial phase of restoring all the computer systems is complete. “We will be working through the night, and if we discover that critical systems are not functioning properly and we need to close in the morning, we will notify you by 6 a.m.,” Dickstein wrote.
Before- and after-school activities will be canceled on Tuesday, but the YMCA before- and after-school care programs will continue.
Dickstein also stated that students should leave their school-issued Chromebooks at home on Tuesday. “As part of our precautions to ensure the incident is contained, access to technology will be limited,” he wrote, adding that the only way to communicate with the schools will be by phone. “There is currently no email communication available,” he wrote.
Parents were first notified about the incident Sunday night. Specific details about the incident were not provided.
The FBI tells News 12 New Jersey that it is aware of the incident, but could not provide any additional details.
It’s worth noting that nearby Centra State Hospital was targeted by hackers in December.