Fiber optic network damage shuts BHS district

Officials with Bloomfield Hills Schools announced last evening that the district would be closed today (Friday, January 10) due to “significant damage” to the fiber optic network upon which the district relies for critical operations.

According to a district Facebook posting last evening, “Earlier today, BHS experienced significant damage to the district’s fiber optic network, which serves as the backbone for our communication, instructional technology, and operational systems. This outage has rendered critical functions such as internet access, classroom technology, phone systems, HVAC controls systems, and safety measures inoperable across the district. After careful consideration, it has been determined that we cannot ensure the safe and effective operation of our schools under these circumstances.”

We understand the inconvenience this may cause, and we are working diligently with our technology team and service providers to repair the damage as quickly as possible. At this time, we are unable to provide a precise timeline for full restoration, but we will keep you informed with updates as they become available.”

The district announcement also noted that a decision would be made early afternoon today relative to after-school activities, athletic events, and evening programs.

No further information relative to the fiber optic network damage was available and contact with the district was limited due to the network problem.