UVALDE, Texas – Uvalde CISD will shut down all campuses for four days after discovering a ransomware attack that disrupted key technology systems across the district.

According to a post on the district’s Facebook, officials say the cyberattack has disabled access to essential services, including phones, air conditioning controls, security cameras, visitor management, and the Skyward platform used by students and staff.

The attack has been reported to the FBI and cybersecurity experts.

Schools will remain closed from Sept. 15 through Sept. 18. Those days will later be swapped with previously scheduled holidays to keep the school calendar on track.

“We are currently dealing with a significant technology incident,” Chief of Communications Anne Marie Espinoza said in a statement. “These systems are crucial for the safety and security of our schools.”

The district said investigations are underway to determine how the ransomware entered its servers and whether sensitive data was compromised. The district stated that classes will not resume until the systems are secure.

RELATED: Uvalde CISD under fire again for incomplete Robb Elementary shooting records release

The ransomware incident comes as Uvalde CISD continues to face heightened scrutiny in the wake of the 2022 Robb Elementary School shooting, when 19 children and two teachers were killed. Security has remained a central concern for families ever since, and the district has drawn criticism over its handling of safety protocols and transparency.

Despite the shutdown, officials say the district’s board meeting scheduled for Monday is still expected to take place. They also confirmed that longtime Technology Director Cash Keith stepped down from his role a few weeks ago, leaving an interim director in charge during the cyberattack.

For parents like Sonia Bell, the closures are already creating challenges. “It is very inconvenient,” Bell said. She immediately began reaching out to other parents when she learned about the shutdown. Her biggest worry is how families will manage several unexpected days at home.

“Uvalde does not have very many daycare centers, so that’s gonna put a big burden on families,” she said.

Bell also questions whether the district has the technology in place to defend itself against attacks like this. Jason Garcia, a former cybersecurity expert with CNF Technologies, says schools across the country are increasingly vulnerable.

“It’s an incredibly big problem and a big deal coming into our school districts,” Garcia said. He explained that because schools store so much sensitive data—from district records to personal information—hackers often view them as prime targets for ransom.

The district is still investigating whether personal information was compromised. Garcia advises anyone who might be affected to take precautions, including monitoring financial accounts and considering data protection services.

“Anyone that is affected by any kind of information or data leak should go into some kind of protection—data protection, subscription,” Garcia said.

Bell, however, says her trust in the district has already been shaken by delays in releasing information about the Robb Elementary shooting.

“It just makes us wonder, are we gonna get the truth today or in three years?” she said.

According to Uvalde CISD, classes are expected to resume on Friday.