Kearney Public Schools Confirms Cybersecurity Breach, Classes to Continue Without Network Access

Kearney, Nebraska — Kearney Public Schools (KPS) issued an update Sunday regarding a cybersecurity incident that disrupted the district’s technology network late last week.

According to officials, the attack occurred on Friday and resulted in a network compromise. KPS’s technology team, assisted by external cybersecurity specialists, is working to identify the source of the breach and restore affected systems.

The district confirmed that the recovery process is ongoing and will not be completed before school resumes Monday. As a result, phones, computers, and all network-dependent systems will be unavailable.

Despite the outage, classes will continue as scheduled. However, phones and email systems will remain down, and those needing to contact schools are asked to do so in person. Teachers will continue instruction without the use of digital tools until services are fully restored.

“We understand this may cause inconvenience and appreciate your patience and support as we work through this situation,” said a KPS spokesperson. “The safety and security of our students, staff, and data remain our highest priorities.”

Superintendent Dr. Jason Mundorf reassured families that no safety systems have been affected by the incident.

“Our Centegix rapid response system remains fully operational using external Wi-Fi,” Mundorf said. “Fire suppression systems and secure door controls are functioning normally and operate independently of the district’s network.”

Mundorf emphasized that student and staff safety was never at risk, stating, “We would never jeopardize the safety of our students and staff for a single day of instruction.”

He also clarified that the breach was not ransomware-related:

“It was a compromise of our network. We have not been asked for ransom.”

According to the district, cloud-based services — including student information, payroll, finance, and the Bearcat Diner point-of-sale system — were not impacted.

With the student information system offline, attendance is being recorded manually, and families are asked to provide written notes for absences until systems are restored. Parents picking up students early should expect possible delays, particularly at the high school and middle school, as staff locate students without digital tools.

KPS anticipates restoring full system functionality by Tuesday.

“We understand the concerns this situation brings,” Mundorf added. “Our focus is on restoring our systems quickly and ensuring a safe, functional learning environment for all students.”