Albuquerque Public Schools Cyberattack - Week of January 10, 2022 (Request #2)
| Submitted | April 21, 2022 |
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Communications
From: The Riford Family
To Whom It May Concern:
Pursuant to the New Mexico Inspection of Public Records Act, I hereby request the following records:
1.) Any and all memos, letters, or records distributed to parents, teachers, etc. regarding the week of January 10, 2022, Albuquerque Public Schools cyberattack.
During the week of January 10, 2022, Albuquerque Public Schools announced that they will be closed due to a cyberattack. Teachers discovered that they were locked out of the student information database that tracks attendance, records emergency contacts for students, and tracks which adults are allowed to pick up which students at the end of the school day. Albuquerque Public Schools hasn't said if the cyber attack they face is a ransomware attack, only that their student information database was "compromised," and that it's working with law enforcement and contractors to limit the damage.
APS Superintendent Scott Elder says they discovered the attack on Wednesday morning when teachers began logging onto the student information system and were not able to get into the site. APS officials say the software is used to keep track of attendance, grades, and access to students’ emergency contact information.
https://www.cnn.com/2022/01/13/politics/cyberattacks-schools-new-mexico-ransomware/index.html
https://techxplore.com/news/2022-01-cyber-albuquerque-latest-schools.html
https://wtop.com/education/2022/02/cyberattacks-increasingly-hobble-pandemic-weary-us-schools/
You can reach me at 716-951-2020 if you have any questions.
The requested documents will be made available to the general public, and this request is not being made for commercial purposes.
In the event that there are fees, I would be grateful if you would inform me of the total charges in advance of fulfilling my request. I would prefer the request filled electronically, by e-mail attachment if available or CD-ROM if not.
Thank you in advance for your anticipated cooperation in this matter. I look forward to receiving your response to this request within 15 business days, as the statute requires.
Sincerely,
Joanne Riford
From: Albuquerque Public Schools
Joanne Riford
MuckRock News
DEPT MR 127786
411A Highland Ave
Somerville, MA 02144-2516
716-951-2020
requests@muckrock.com
RE: IPRA 22 04 22 Muckrock Riford RE Cyberattack
Good morning Joanne Riford,
Your correspondence was forwarded to the Custodian of Records for,
specifically: *"**1.) Any and all memos, letters, or records distributed to
parents, teachers, etc. regarding the week of January 10, 2022, Albuquerque
Public Schools cyberattack"*
In as much as your correspondence regards requests for records, it will be
reviewed for response in compliance with the New Mexico Inspection of
Public Records Act (NMIPRA).
We will respond by May 9, 2022 or sooner with the status of your request or
to deliver the records.
COR 2 Custodian of Records Department
Albuquerque Public Schools
Mail: P.O. Box 25704, Albuquerque, NM 87125-0704
Future Records Requests should be submitted at:
https://aps.nextrequest.com/ <custodianofrecords@aps.edu>
From: Albuquerque Public Schools
Joanne Riford
MuckRock News
DEPT MR 127786
411A Highland Ave
Somerville, MA 02144-2516
716-951-2020
requests@muckrock.com
RE: IPRA 22 04 22 Muckrock Riford RE Cyberattack
Good morning Joanne Riford,
We received your request for, specifically* "**1.) Any and all memos,
letters, or records distributed to parents, teachers, etc. regarding the
week of January 10, 2022, Albuquerque PublicSchools cyberattack"*
Your description requesting is not in compliance with NMIPRA, that
states, §14-2-8 Procedure for Requesting Records (C.) A written request
shall identify the records sought with reasonable particularity and the
description provided should be sufficient to enable the custodian to
identify and find the requested record.
Please clarify/define what records you are specifically requesting in *"Any
and all"*
Please clarify/identify the date and name of the memo(s) you are requesting
in "*memos"*
Please clarify/identify the date and name of the letters you are requesting
in "*letters"*
Please clarify/identify the date and name of the records you are requesting
in "*records" *
Please clarify/define what records you are specifically requesting in
*"etc"*
Please clarify/define what records you are specifically requesting in *"*
*regarding" *
Please clarify/provide a beginning and ending timeline for the records you
are requesting in* "**the week of January 10, 2022" *
Once you provide the clarification requested, the appropriate APS
department(s) will be contacted to search and determine if the records
exist and are allowed by law to be released. These departments will be able
to determine a time frame to gather the records that is based on the number
of records, location and availability of staff to retrieve the records.
Please note in compliance with NMIPRA, VI. 14-2-7 C. REASONABLE OPPORTUNITY
TO INSPECT requires proper and reasonable opportunities to inspect public
records. This does not mean that a request to inspect must take precedence
over all other business of the public body. Rather, the duty to provide
reasonable opportunities to inspect permits a records custodian to take
into account the public body’s office hours, available space, available
personnel, need to safeguard records and other legitimate concerns.
Accordingly, the custodian may impose reasonable conditions on access.
Generally, the obligation to provide reasonable access to public records
should not require an office to disrupt its normal operations or remain
open beyond its normal hours of operations.
Please note that in compliance with the New Mexico Inspection of Public
Records Act (NMIPRA) NMSA 1978, §14-2-8 Procedure for Requesting Records,
(B.) Nothing in the Inspection of Public Records Act shall be construed to
require a public body to create a public record. The right to inspect
applies to any nonexempt public record that exists at the time of the
request. A records custodian or public body is not required to compile
information from the public body’s records or otherwise create a new public
record in response to a request.
COR 2
Custodian of Records Department
Albuquerque Public Schools
Mail: P.O. Box 25704, Albuquerque, NM 87125-0704
Future Records Requests should be submitted at: https://aps.nextrequest.com/
From: Albuquerque Public Schools
Joanne Riford
MuckRock News
DEPT MR 127786
411A Highland Ave
Somerville, MA 02144-2516
716-951-2020
requests@muckrock.com
RE: IPRA 22 04 22 Muckrock Riford RE Cyberattack
Good afternoon Joanne Riford,
We received your request for, specifically:
*"1.) Any and all memos, letters, or records distributed to parents,
teachers, etc. regarding the week of January 10, 2022, Albuquerque
PublicSchools cyberattack"*
In response to your request, Monica Armenta, Executive Director,
Communications for Albuquerque Public Schools provided the following
responsive records "11.11.22 Cyberattack Activate 2-step Verification" and
1.13.22 Cyberattack Closes Schools"
In compliance with the New Mexico Inspection of Public Records Act (NMIPRA)
NMSA 1978, §14-2-8 Procedure for Requesting Records, (B.) "*Nothing in the
Inspection of Public Records Act shall be construed to require a public
body to create a public record*."
Pursuant to the Attorney General’s Compliance Guide, “*The right to inspect
applies to any nonexempt public record that exists at the time of the
request. A records custodian or public body is not required to compile
information from the public body’s records or otherwise create a new public
record in response to a request*.”
We consider this request completed. All records have been released, and
your request has been fulfilled.
COR 2
Custodian of Records Department
Albuquerque Public Schools
Mail: P.O. Box 25704, Albuquerque, NM 87125-0704
Future Records Requests should be submitted at:
https://aps.nextrequest.
com/
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