Nantucket schools closed Wednesday after ransomware attack

NANTUCKET – Students on Nantucket were dismissed early on Tuesday after a ransomware attack on computer systems in the district. School is canceled on Wednesday out of an abundance of caution.

Superintendent of Schools Elizabeth Hallet made the announcement in an email sent to families.

All Nantucket Public Schools student and staff devices were shut down, along with safety and security systems. The school said that includes phones and security cameras.

As a result, students and staff were dismissed at noon on Tuesday. 

"Together with outside data security experts, our Information Technology Department has been working very hard all day to restore our computers and internet service," Hallett said. 

All athletic practices, games, the Nantucket Community Pool, and the Early Childhood Center at Nantucket Elementary School will continue as scheduled.  

The district said no school-issued devices should be used at home "until further notice, as it could compromise home networks."