Lexington-Richland School District Five hit by cyberattack disrupting operations and payments
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Lexington-Richland School District Five in South Carolina was hit by a cyberattack that has disrupted all district software systems and forced the delay of employee retention bonuses.
The incident, detected on June 4, 2025 was described as a "data security incident" affecting its network environment. The cyberattack caused complete internet outages across the district, preventing teachers from accessing their accounts and forcing the cancellation of virtual summer classes for students.
One immediate financial impact became apparent when the district was forced to delay $1,500 employee retention bonuses that had been scheduled for distribution on Friday, June 6, 2025. District officials notified staff that due to continued internet outages, the retention payments would not arrive as scheduled and that they would provide an update the following week with a new payment date.
The district said that the SAT exams scheduled for June 7 at Chapin and Dutch Fork high schools would go ahead as planned
The nature of the attack, any impacted data and number of affected individuals is not disclosed. The district launched an investigation with assistance from law enforcement and third-party cybersecurity specialists to determine the nature and extent of the security breach.
The district has committed to providing updates as the investigation progresses and systems are restored.
