Overview

All Highline schools will be closed on Wednesday, 11 September, due to a cyber security incident. The schools were already closed on Monday and Tuesday while the district investigated unauthorised activity.

Important findings

  • All schools in Highline will be closed on Wednesday.
  • The incident concerns the district’s technology systems.
  • There is no evidence that information from employees, families or students has been compromised.
  • All school activities, including sports and meetings, are cancelled.
  • The central office remains open.

Details of the incident

Highline Public Schools, located in southern King County, announced the closures through its website. As a precaution, the district has taken certain systems offline that are important for school operations. However, Office 365, including email and the district’s website, remains operational.

“Our investigation into unauthorised activity in our technology systems is ongoing, and critical systems remain offline,” Highline said. “We have no evidence that information about employees, families or students has been compromised. If that changes, we will notify the people affected.”

Effects on school operations

All school activities, sporting events and meetings are also cancelled, including the vaccination clinic. The central office remains open, however, and school and central office administrators are expected to continue reporting to work.

Highline shared a link to expectations for staff during a school closure and asked employees to point it out when they receive questions from families.

“We understand that closing the school is a significant disruption to our families and staff, but student safety remains our top priority,” the district said.

Administrative reactions

Highline Superintendent Ivan Duran issued a statement recognizing the disappointment of families over the postponement of the first day of kindergarten.

“My eldest son was supposed to start kindergarten in Highline today,” Duran wrote. “Like many of you, we were looking forward to this new chapter.”

Highline said it will share more information about the incident and its impact on technology systems as more information becomes available.

“Thank you for your patience and understanding,” explained the district’s website.

Sources

  • All Highline schools closed Wednesday due to Cyber Security incident, MyNorthwest.com.