ALERT Tracker

Introducing our new ALERT Tracker—a real-time message board providing up-to-date details on important school or district situations. Stay informed with the latest updates to ensure the safety and well-being of our school community.

Event Message Board

December 13, 2025

Furthering our commitment in keeping the ZESD 6 community updated on the recent cybersecurity incident that impacted our schools, we would like to share our status.

To recap, on Sunday, November 30, 2025, ZESD 6 detected unusual activity within our IT environment. Our technology team immediately enacted our incident response plan, which included isolating our operating systems from the internet to protect our network. While these safety measure temporarily disabled access to internal systems, our website and external communication portals were not affected and have remained online to keep our school community informed.

Unfortunately, cybersecurity incidents have continued to rise throughout the nation. Educational institutions are among the top five affected industries, accounting for 17% of all incidents. ZESD 6 has multiple safeguards in place to prevent cyberattacks on district systems, including usernames, passwords, and multi-factor authentication (MFA). However, upon discovery of unusual activity within our network, our response plan included the immediate isolation of our systems to allow for a thorough investigation.

Although the investigation is still underway, we are limiting and carefully managing online operations. Our Google Suite, Microsoft 365, and email have returned to normal operation for district-wide staff use.

The privacy and security of our students and staff remain our highest priority. We are committed to a transparent process and will continue to share confirmed information as our investigation proceeds. We are grateful for the resilience of our school community during this time.

December 4, 2025

We welcome our students back for in-person learning and are prepared with a safe and stable learning environment.

To maintain our stable environment, as part of our response to the cybersecurity incident, temporary adjustments have been made to select systems throughout the district. As we continue the ongoing investigation, each district system is being reviewed individually which may cause for intermittent suspension of service. Therefore, over the coming days, systems will be reinstated one at a time as they are fully reviewed. While some systems have less impact on our overall environment than others, each is receiving the same level of attention to ensure we continue to maintain a safe and reliable environment for our school community.

Currently, temporary adjustments have been implemented for our standard communication plan. Outgoing communications will continue however, incoming email is temporarily suspended until further notice.

ParentSquare remains available for communications between home and your child's classroom teacher. In addition, if you need to connect with one of our staff members, you may also call your child's school office during school operating hours.

ZESD 6 will continue to provide further updates as they become available.

December 3, 2025

ZESD 6 Schools Resume for Students Thursday, December 4, 2025

All ZESD 6 schools and offices will reopen for students and staff on Thursday, December 4, 2025. All students before and after school activities and events will return to normal scheduling unless communicated otherwise.

December 2, 2025

All ZESD 6 schools will be cancelled for student instruction on Wednesday, December 3. Staff will be in buildings in preparation for students’ return. All before- and after-school activities canceled.

All schools will reopen for student instruction on Thursday, December 4. All before- and after-school activities will resume as normal operation.

December 1, 2025

All ZESD 6 schools and offices will be closed Tuesday, December 2, 2025. All before- and after-school activities are canceled.

We are continuing to respond to a cyber security incident that may have impacted systems and servers across the district. Consequently, some District services have been suspended. We are working diligently with third-party cybersecurity specialists to evaluate the nature and scope of this incident and restore functionality as securely and quickly as possible.

Classes will remain in session for students attending out of district instructional programs and transportation will continue as scheduled.

We understand the inconvenience this may cause and appreciate your patience and understanding. We will provide updates as soon as more information becomes available.

Thank you for your continued support.

November 30, 2025

Zion ESD 6 is currently responding to a cyber security incident that may have compromised electronic files and servers across the district. We are working diligently to determine the credibility and full extent of this potential breach.

District Office and all schools will be closed on Monday, December 1, 2025 for all students and staff to allow for a thorough, immediate investigation of this matter. Additionally, all before-and after-school activities are cancelled as well.

Updates regarding this situation will be posted here as they become available.

We appreciate your understanding and patience as we work to resolve this critical matter.

2025-2026 Past Alerts

September 22, 2025

September 22, 2025

Social Media Posting
September 22, 2025
4:30 p.m.

The alert issued earlier today has been resolved and is now closed. There is no threat to our schools, and all students and staff are safe. School operations will continue as normal.

*****

Social Media Posting
September 22, 2025
9:50 a.m.

This morning, it was brought to our attention that an unfounded threat is circulated on social media referencing potential violence at a neighboring school district. While the threat does not involve our schools, we have been in close contact with the local police department. Out of an abundance of caution, we have taken proactive steps to ensure the safety of our students and staff relating to the potential threat.

To support our community’s public safety, as a precaution, the Zion Police Department will have officers present at all of our schools during arrival and dismissal times along with extra patrols in the community today. Our School Resource Officers (SROs) are also aware of this situation and will be on-site at our middle schools. We want to reassure you that there is no direct threat or danger to our school community, and all of our students and staff are safe.

We will continue to prioritize the safety and well-being of our students and staff, work closely with law enforcement, and keep you informed of any further developments.

We will share updates as needed.

General Information

The safety of our students, staff and facilities is of the utmost importance. In the event of a situation or emergency at one of our schools, accuracy and timeliness are critical.

We are in constant contact with our campus staff, District staff (including Security and Emergency Management), and the Zion Police Department. Families will be notified via phone, email, and text message when a situation or emergency arises. Once facts are verified, we will post all following information directly to the Alert Tracker message board below. Updates will be timestamped as they are provided.

FAQs

How will parents receive information when there is an emergency incident resulting in the use of SRP-based actions?

It is near dismissal time and the school is in a SRP-based action phase where my student is remaining inside the school for protective reasons. How will I know when and where I can pick up my child?

Should I come to the school during a Lockout, Lockdown, or Other action that is in-progress?

Parents are urged to stay home and await instructions from the district anytime SRP-based protective measures are being utilized to ensure the safety and security of students and staff.

During Lockout or Lockdown, traffic routes around the school(s) must remain clear to allow for arriving first responder agencies. These SRP-based actions will result in an increase in police presence as the circumstances are investigated. In addition, no-one is allowed in or out of a ZESD 6 facility during a Lockout or Lockdown.

Parents congregating near the front entrance of a ZESD 6 facility during a Lockout or Lockdown may create additional perceived risks for responding police agencies while the credibility of a threat or hazard is being evaluated.

Other actions are typically resolved in a very short amount of time once a hazard has passed or has been determined to be a non-issue.

Crisis Communication Protocols

Weather

The decision to close school because of inclement Weather is a difficult and serious undertaking. When deciding whether to close schools, we take the following factors into consideration:

Amount and type of precipitation
Weather forecasts (start and stop times)
Ability to clear parking lots and sidewalks around schools;
Street (highway, thoroughfare and residential), and bus stop
conditions;
Wind and wind chill, and
Temperature

The superintendent closely monitors local forecasts at first
announcement of a storm front and consults with neighboring
districts.

When schools are closed for the day, all extracurricular activities, interscholastic athletics, practices, and field trips are cancelled.

Initial communication
Phone, Text, Email, Social Media, Home Screen Messaging, and Local Television Stations

Soft Lockdown

A Soft Lockdown is called when there is a threat or hazard outside of the school building. Whether it’s due to violence or criminal activity in the immediate neighborhood, or a dangerous animal on the playground, a lockout uses the security of the school building to act as protection. Classes will continue as usual within the building, however activity that requires the opening of exterior doors is not allowable. No one may enter or exit the building at any point until the local law enforcement determines the site is secure and the lockout can be lifted.

Initial communication
Phone, Text, Email, Social Media, and Home Screen Messaging

Continued communication
ALERT Tracker

Hard Lockdown

A Hard Lockdown is called when there is a threat or hazard inside or approaching the inside of the school building. From parental custody disputes, to intruders, to an active shooter, a lockdown uses classroom security to protect students and staff from threat. In an actual Lockdown situation, doors are locked, lights are turned off, and all persons move away from visible windows. No movement within the school is permitted. The rooms will remained locked until the local law enforcement determines the site is secure and the lockdown can be lifted. Each room will be cleared individually by either law enforcement or building administrator/designee upon directives of local law enforcement.

Initial communication
Phone, Text, Email, Social Media, and Home Screen Messaging

Continued communication
ALERT Tracker

Other

In the case of Other events, communications and details will be dependent on the type of event, which will be reflected in the messaging sent out to families. Avenues of communication thought will remain the same as they are in Lockouts and Lockdowns.

Initial communication
Phone, Text, Email, Social Media, and Home Screen Messaging

Continued communication
ALERT Tracker