A break in an outside provider's fiber network cut phone and internet service at four Sherman ISD campuses on Monday morning, and the district told families the affected schools could not take visitors for the day.
The campuses are Crutchfield Elementary, Parker Elementary, Sherman Middle School and Jefferson Learning Center. In a notice posted at 5:30 a.m. Monday, the district said there was no emergency at any of them and that students and staff were safe. It said the problem sits in external network infrastructure, not inside the district's own systems.
Reaching the schools
Sherman ISD said it sent emergency cell phones to the four campuses, and calls to their regular numbers now ring through to those phones, so parents can keep dialing the usual campus number. The district warned that callers may hit delays or may not get through on the first try, depending on how many calls come in and how well the connection holds.
Elementary parents can also message teachers through ClassDojo, though the district said replies may be slow because teachers are with students during the day.
No visits, fewer devices
The visitor check-in systems at the schools run over the internet, so the four campuses cannot admit visitors while the outage lasts. The district said that includes parents and relatives who planned to stop by or eat lunch with a student.
Classes are also working with limited access to digital devices and online lessons, and the district said teachers are switching to other activities as needed. Sherman ISD said it is working with its service provider on restoring the lines but did not give a time for repairs in its notice.
