Cyberattack forces Albuquerque schools to cancel classes

Albuquerque (N.M.) Public Schools has been forced to close schools for two days because of a cyberattack.

The district says the attack compromised the student information system used to take attendance, contact families in emergencies, and assure that students are picked up from school by authorized adults.

Schools were closed Thursday and Friday. They are expected to re-open on Tuesday, Jan. 18.

Superintendent Scott Elder says the district’s technology department had been fending off attacks “for the last few weeks,” the Associated Press reports.

Five school districts in New Mexico have suffered similar cyberattacks in the past two years.

Elder discussed the situation in a videotaped statement: