By Richard Dyer
Mail | X: @RHDyer

The Apache Junction Unified School District has restored its systems following a mass worldwide IT outage caused by routine software updates from CrowdStrike that affected computers running Microsoft Windows.

The software update snafu also impacted Superstition Fire and Medical District, the city of Apache Junction and the Apache Junction Police Department where there were no disruptions to essential services.

The tech outage has grounded flights, with banks and media outlets also knocked offline.

“Earlier today, AJUSD experienced a district-wide system outage due to a global update affecting all Windows machines. As of 8:30 a.m., all systems have been restored, and students will experience no interruptions in their learning. We appreciate your patience and understanding during this time,” Lindsay Hansen, a spokeperson for the district, said in an email.

“We have been impacted but there are no disruptions to essential services. Fortunately our dispatch center trains for such outages,” John Whitney, Superstition Fire and Medical District fire chief, said in an email.

“The Mesa Regional Dispatch Center has created an update to our (mobile computer terminals) to correct the outage. Our 911 service is still operational,” Richard Mooney, SFMD assistant chief and fire, said in an email.

Several of the city of Apache Junction’s systems were impacted by the global IT outage, with no disruptions to essential services.

“Some components of AJPD's computer-aided dispatch were affected, but 911 and radio systems remained operational and our IT team worked diligently through the night to fully restore all functionality by approximately 2:30 a.m.,” Kayla Fulmer, the city of Apache Junction’s marketing and communications director, said in an email.

“Users may still encounter temporary issues when accessing some cloud-based systems utilized for other city platforms, such as CivicRec. However all systems that are managed by the city IT team remain up and operational. An emergency alert has been added to the top of our website to notify residents of potential issues when accessing platforms as well,” she said.

AJUSD has three elementary schools, a junior high school and a high school. The district is from Meridian Road on the west to the town of Queen Valley on the east and from the Goldfield Mountains to the north, south into the San Tan Corridor. Communities served include Apache Junction, Gold Canyon, Peralta Trail, Queen Valley and unincorporated Pinal County land in-between.

The fire district provides fire suppression, fire prevention, wildland protection, advanced life support, rescue, extrication and medical transportation services out of five fire stations in Apache Junction and Gold Canyon.

Richard Dyer
Managing Editor | East Valley

rdyer@iniusa.org

Meet Richard
Richard Dyer has worked at Independent Newsmedia Inc. USA since 1987, starting his career in Apache Junction as a copy editor and being promoted over the years to work as the editor of the Mesa Independent, news services editor for the East Valley office in Apache Junction, managing editor for the East Valley office, news services editor for the East Valley office and eventually also for the newspapers at INI’s then-Chandler office, managing editor again and as a news editor covering Apache Junction/Gold Canyon and Queen Creek. He helped start the Florence Independent while the news editor covering Apache Junction and Mesa news. In January 2023, he became associate managing editor for the East Valley newspapers and in August 2023 became managing editor for the East Valley newspapers of Chandler/Tempe, Gilbert, Queen Creek, Florence, Mesa and Apache Junction/Gold Canyon, while also reporting on Mesa and Apache Junction/Gold Canyon.  

Community: Since 2009, he has worked as a volunteer to design The Blue Guitar Magazine, Blue Guitar Jr. magazine and Unstrung magazine, which are projects of The Arizona Consortium for the Arts; and since 2014, has been overseeing the art submissions. 

Education: University of Arizona with a master of arts in journalism and a bachelor of science in agricultural communication. Also continuing education at Mesa Community College in welding in a metal art sculpture class.

Random fact: Saw his first tornado on May 31, 2010, which was classified as an EF-2, as part of a stormchasing tour group.

Hobbies: He is an artist of welded-steel sculptures, selling his artwork at juried and non-juried art shows.