EDUCATION + SCHOOLS

Internet outage causes huge problems for schools as they try to finish RISE testing

May 17, 2019, 6:43 PM

(Photo Credit: Paul Nelson)...

(Photo Credit: Paul Nelson)

(Photo Credit: Paul Nelson)

DRAPER – What else could go wrong?

The Canyons School District has had to cancel two more days of RISE exams, this time because of an internet outage that brought their operations to a standstill.

While crews were working on a construction project in Draper, someone damaged internet fiber and that took down the web for Jordan, Murray and Canyons school districts.  The internet has been restored, but educators say Canyons School District was “clobbered” the worst out of all three of them.

Not only did the outage take down their internet, it also knocked out their phone lines.

District Spokesman Jeff Haney says, “We couldn’t answer any phone calls from patrons.  We couldn’t access our student data software.”

Educators are now dealing with a backlog of emails and phone messages that they weren’t able to get to.

Schools in the district had to push back their RISE testing by two more days, which comes on top of the delays they already had due to server issues from the test’s creators.  Haney says they designed their testing schedule to handle “bumps in the road,” but they’re really cutting it close to the end of the school year, now.

“We feel like we can do it in the time we have left, but there is very little give left in the schedule,” he says, adding, “It will be tight, and we can’t have any more high-tech hiccups.”

The Utah Board of Education has announced they will not penalize schools that are not able to finish RISE exam by the end of the year, as long as they inform the state board that they couldn’t complete them because of the delays.  Last week, Haney says they didn’t need to do that.  However, that changed because of today’s outage.

He says, “We reached out to the state and let them know that we were facing this technical difficulty and they’ve been really great to work with us.”

We want to hear from you.

Have a story idea or tip? Send it to the KSL NewsRadio team here.

Today’s Top Stories

Education + Schools

alpine school district signage shown...

Logan Stefanich, KSL.com

Amid ‘tension’ in Alpine School District, board votes to study potential district reconfiguration

Alpine School District's board of education has voted unanimously to begin a study into reconfiguring the biggest district in the Beehive State.

11 months ago

A student at Toeele Junior High School brought an unloaded firearm onto campus Thursday morning, ac...

Simone Seikaly

Student found with unloaded gun at Tooele Junior High

Tooele Police said a resource officer learned about the gun from an administrator, who heard from a teacher, who heard from a student.

11 months ago

Burned trees piled on the School and Institutional Trust Lands Administration land pictured...

Adam Small and Samantha Herrera

$300,000 cleanup getting property back to raising money for public schools

The School and Institutional Trust Lands Administration has to clear decades worth of bullets and rifle pellets from a former Boy Scouts camp.

11 months ago

A lawsuit filed against the Alpine School District, the district's board of education and Superinte...

Logan Stefanich

Parents file lawsuit against Alpine School District over potential closure of 5 elementary schools

The suit comes less than a month after the same group of parents threatened to bring legal action against the Alpine School district.

11 months ago

Fourth grade teacher Emily Weigel shows her students that it might be hard to fit under their desks...

Amanda Dickson

What teachers want during Teacher Appreciation week — R.E.S.P.E.C.T.

Teachers and parents alike work tirelessly to educate and raise kids. Here's what one organization says about appreciating your teachers during Teacher Appreciation Week.

11 months ago

climate change education...

Marjorie Cortez, Deseret News

State School Board restores climate change science standard by 1 vote

The majority of the Utah State Board of Education members ended up rejecting a recommendation that would remove climate change language from the state's science standards.

11 months ago

Sponsored Articles

close up of rose marvel saliva blooms in purple...

Shannon Cavalero

Drought Tolerant Perennials for Utah

The best drought tolerant plants for Utah can handle high elevations, alkaline soils, excessive exposure to wind, and use of secondary water.

Group of cheerful team members high fiving each other...

Visit Bear Lake

How To Plan a Business Retreat in Bear Lake This Spring

Are you wondering how to plan a business retreat this spring? Read our sample itinerary to plan a team getaway to Bear Lake.

Cheerful young woman writing an assignment while sitting at desk between two classmates during clas...

BYU EMBA at the Marriott School of Business

Hear it Firsthand: 6 Students Share Their Executive MBA Experience at BYU’s Marriott School of Business

The Executive MBA program at BYU offers great opportunities. Hear experiences straight from students enrolled in the program.

Skier being towed by a rider on a horse. Skijoring....

Bear Lake Convention and Visitors Bureau

Looking for a New Winter Activity? Try Skijoring in Bear Lake

Skijoring is when someone on skis is pulled by a horse, dog, animal, or motor vehicle. The driver leads the skiers through an obstacle course over jumps, hoops, and gates.

Banner with Cervical Cancer Awareness Realistic Ribbon...

Intermountain Health

Five Common Causes of Cervical Cancer – and What You Can Do to Lower Your Risk

January is National Cervical Cancer Awareness month and cancer experts at Intermountain Health are working to educate women about cervical cancer.

Kid holding a cisco fish at winterfest...

Bear Lake Convention and Visitors Bureau

Get Ready for Fun at the 2023 Bear Lake Monster Winterfest

The Bear Lake Monster Winterfest is an annual weekend event jam-packed full of fun activities the whole family can enjoy.

Internet outage causes huge problems for schools as they try to finish RISE testing