What most residents of the Upper Perkiomen School District felt back in March was true.  The computer shutdown that occurred back then was much more than a network event – it was a cyberattack.

            The caution messages that district officials sent out via school emails and message boards not available to the general public should have been a widespread message to the entire community – from those same officials.

            It's called "transparency."  Give everybody a "heads-up" not only of what you think happened but also the seriousness of what could have happened and what precautionary measures they may want to take – then, not now. 

            If you were trying to avert a panic, guess what.  Those who regarded it as a common network issue may have had their private and medical information out on the black market for months and for purchase by who-knows.

            According to many insurance-related research companies, your private information is worth as much as $1,000 each.  That's a lot of money when you multiply it by the number of people whose private information was obtained illegally.

            The truth about what may have happened and the minimal or catastrophic seriousness, depending on the outcome of your investigation, should be shared.  What were you thinking and who was advising you?  Also, what is the cost of this entire event from March into the who-knows-when future?

            The people are not stupid and officials owe them the opportunity to make their own choices based on a full accounting at every step of the investigation, from learning about it to the conclusion of the investigation.

            The first shoe dropped back in March and the second one didn't drop until August.

            If you think you did the right thing by keeping some of the people from panicking and asking questions then, what do you think is going to happen now?