LCPS still not out of the dark after ransomware attack

LAS CRUCES, N.M. (KFOX14) — For months, Las Cruces Public School teachers have had to teach with minimal technology after being hit with ransomware.

“It has been a critical loss for our teachers to not have this convenience of the computers, but it is a tool, and it’s not to teach,” LCPS School Board Member Maria Flores said.

Interim Superintendent Karen Trujillo said this has been a learning experience for everyone.

“I think at the end of this, every teacher that went through this will have more tools in their bag,” Trujillo said.

LCPS officials said that right now, there are over 5,000 clean computers across the district. And while this number seems like a lot, they still aren’t even half way through cleaning all the devices.

The tech team told school board members that some of the current challenges they are facing include installing software for courses like drafting and creative media, as well as inconsistent internet access on clean machines.

They said their team is working a lot of overtime and even had to work through the holidays.

School board member Ray Jaramillo said this worries him.

“The tech team has done amazing work and the people in your department have done amazing work, I just don’t know how long you can do that without impacting your health,” Jaramillo said.

Trujillo said job postings have been listed for four tech workers to help them combat the problem.