Highline Public Schools, based in South King County, have announced the closure of all schools on Monday, 9th September, following a cybersecurity incident. The decision, communicated on Sunday via the district’s website and an email to parents, affects not only regular classes but also all school-related activities, including athletics, meetings, and a scheduled vaccine clinic.
In a statement, Highline Public Schools reported, "We have detected unauthorised activity on our technology systems and have taken immediate action to isolate critical systems. We are working closely with third-party, state, and federal partners to safely restore and test our systems."
The district acknowledged the timing of the closure, particularly given that many families were preparing for their children’s first day of kindergarten. "We understand this comes as an unexpected disruption," the statement continued. "We recognise the burden this decision places on both families and staff, but student safety is our top priority, and we cannot have school without these critical systems in place."
Despite the closures, the district’s central office will remain open, and school and central office administrators are expected to report to work as usual. Highline has provided guidance to staff regarding their responsibilities during the closure and has urged them to refer to this information if questioned by families.
The investigation into the cybersecurity incident is ongoing, and the district plans to update staff and families by 2 p.m. on Monday regarding whether schools will remain closed on Tuesday.
Highline Public Schools expressed gratitude for the community’s patience and understanding during this challenging time.
