A portion of the North Babylon School District’s computer network has been infected by a “ransomware-type virus,” according to Superintendent Glen Eschbach.

According to a message sent by the superintendent and posted on the district’s website, the virus “encrypted some of the computerized files” on its internal network and impacted the district’s ability to send or receive email.

Eschbach says that an onsite network engineer spotted the issue early enough to “prevent a systematic spread or further damage to District files.” He also says the district determined will not need to “pay any ransom to retrieve its files or decrypt any files.”

Eschbach says there was “no evidence that any student, staff, or financial data files were involved in this attack on our educational system.”

The district is, however, temporarily shutting down the entire network and “and ALL connections to and from District-issued Chromebooks.”

The superintendent says, “no student's grades or academic standing will be negatively impacted by this unfortunate incident.”

The district says it will not need to pay any ransom to retrieve or decrypt any files. It hopes to have student devices back online later in the week.

The district is not answering questions from the media at this time.