5 P.M. UPDATE:

The district’s phone system and all school phones were working again as of 5 p.m. Tuesday, said Mona Bernard, a spokesperson for the school system.

However, the district’s Internet is still out. Bernard said the district’s technology team will work throughout the night to resolve the problems.

“They are very hopeful that everything will be back up tomorrow morning,” she said.

ORIGINAL STORY:  Phone and Internet service is temporarily shut down at Lafayette Parish public schools because of a suspected computer virus.

Mona Bernard, spokeswoman for the school system, said phones at the district’s central office are currently out of service. The phones at many schools are spotty or out completely.

“If people are trying to reach a school and they get no answer, it’s probably because the phones are down at that school,” Bernard said.

Internet and email service is also down at all schools and the central office.

Bernard said some staff members at the central office noticed computer problems when they arrived to work this morning. The problem is believed to be some type of virus.

“Out of an abundance of caution, the network was shut down,” Bernard said. “They wanted to limit the exposure so as not to create any more problems.”

There is no immediate timetable on when the network will be up again.

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Information from: The Daily Advertiser