Preparing for the 2026-27 School Year

This has not been a typical summer at Evanston Township High School. The cybersecurity incident our district experienced in June caused widespread disruption and significant damage to our technology environment. For approximately one month, we were unable to access our core servers while cybersecurity specialists worked to contain the incident, conduct forensic analysis, and begin the careful process of recovery. Our teams have been working alongside external specialists to rebuild critical systems, restore services, and prepare our district for the start of the year. Much of the work taking place this summer has focused not simply on bringing systems back online, but on rebuilding our technology infrastructure in a way that is secure, reliable, and built for the future.

As a result, back-to-school will look different this year. While we are ready and excited to welcome students back, some of the tools, processes, and timelines our families and staff have come to expect will not yet look or function as they have in the past. Some of these changes reflect our ongoing recovery from the cybersecurity incident, while others represent new systems and processes that will support our district moving forward. You will see new technology platforms, updated back-to-school procedures, and some services introduced in phases as restoration continues. In the weeks ahead, we will share updates and practical information about what students and families can expect to help you prepare for the new year.

Throughout this recovery, our priority has been ensuring ETHS is ready to welcome students while thoughtfully rebuilding the technology systems that support teaching, learning, and daily operations. Every decision has been guided by both immediate needs and our long-term commitment to a more secure and resilient technology environment.

The partnership and flexibility our school community has shown throughout the summer have been extraordinary, and our administration is deeply grateful. As we work through the final stages of recovery, there will be moments this fall when we ask for your continued patience and understanding. There will be new routines to learn, temporary workarounds, and, inevitably, things that don't go exactly as we hoped. We'll be transparent, we'll keep communicating, and we'll keep moving forward together.

The beginning of a new school year is always an exciting milestone, marked with fresh starts and possibility, and in that sense, this one is no different. More than anything, we’re looking forward to the moment our students walk through our doors and another school year begins.

Sincerely,
Dr. Marcus A. Campbell
Superintendent