Highline Public Schools closed Monday, tech trouble blamed

Thanks for the tips. Highline Public Schools – the district immediately south of here – has announced that a technology problem will close all its schools tomorrow (Monday, September 9) though some staffers are still expected to come to work. Here’s the full announcement from the district’s website:

All schools are closed on Monday, September 9. All school activities, athletics and meetings are canceled, including the vaccine clinic. Central office is open.

We have detected unauthorized 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.

We understand this comes as an unexpected disruption, particularly on the eve of the first day of kindergarten for many of our families. We recognize 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. …

School and central office administrators are expected to report to work. Central office administrators may be deployed to schools if needed.

The investigation is ongoing. We will notify staff and families by 2:00 p.m. on Monday if this disruption impacts schools on Tuesday.

Like most other local schools, Highline just started its 2024-2025 year this past week.

Carol K. September 8, 2024 (4:54 pm)

So just turn off the computers and teach like everyone did for hundreds of years.

BMC September 8, 2024 (5:20 pm)

Really ignorant…
- Steve McQueen September 9, 2024 (4:41 pm)
  
  Not really ignorant, no.
Notthateasy September 8, 2024 (5:31 pm)

It’s not that easy. There’s attendance. Security system. Fire system. Lunch system. Verify identification for people coming in the building. The substitute system. Etc.
Highline Teacher September 8, 2024 (5:37 pm)

Everything, from security to unlock doors and heating system are centrally controlled. Then there’s also the student and staff info. Without more info, anyone’s guess exactly what has been breached and targeted. It’s not just the “teaching.”
Highline staff member September 8, 2024 (6:56 pm)

Your lack of concern for the safety of students, faculty, and staff is deeply troubling.
West Seattle Lite September 8, 2024 (7:29 pm)

Ummmm…don’t ya think they woulda done that if they coulda?
K September 8, 2024 (7:37 pm)

Everything schools use to respond to school shootings is computerized…
waikikigirl September 9, 2024 (7:05 am)

@Carol K I knew what you meant and didn’t feel the need to give you a know-it-all reply. Though, computers are needed to get by in life but IMO have caused a lot of problems in life too.
Lola September 9, 2024 (7:58 am)

My grandaughter goes here. I asked my son about it. He says because all the doors are electronically locked by the computers and if someone has taken over their electronics then they could be in danger so they decided to cancel school till it is fixed. Does that explain it to you as to why?
- Steve McQueen September 9, 2024 (4:40 pm)
  
  Sounds like it would be dangerous to have children in school at all, as at any time the power could go out, or the school system could be hacked while children are actually in school.
  - WS Res September 9, 2024 (7:25 pm)
    
    They can have battery or generator power as backups in case of power loss. That’s not the same as “we can’t use anything connected to the network.”

Michael Waldo September 8, 2024 (5:50 pm)

It is not as simple as turning off the computers.Schedules, attendance, grades, assignments, email are all on line these days.

Frog September 8, 2024 (7:00 pm)

I hope their disaster recovery plan is better than SPL.

Bbron September 9, 2024 (12:48 am)

i think it’s a bit of apples and oranges: “detected unauthorized activity” vs. SPL’s ransomware attack. it’s great that Highline caught whatever was happening early and kudos to them; however, SPL is a larger entity with more to manage, and their attackers obviously had more ambitions plans. i don’t think it’s fair to say that SPL’s disaster recovery plan was “worst” in any regard.
Reader September 9, 2024 (5:26 pm)

SPL did a phenomenal job of navigating the ransomware attack and taking care of patrons.

Michael Waldo September 8, 2024 (7:25 pm)

Frog: “I hope their disaster recovery plan is better than SPL.”That was my first thought!My wife works for Highline.She could not connect to anything.Luckily the email still works, as it is Outlook, so it is on Microsoft servers.Her email said the FBI was notified.They say it is a “technical” issue. You don’t reach out to the FBI for a technical issue.

jissy September 8, 2024 (10:52 pm)

That’s what I thought, too Waldo. I received an email, phone call and text and it kinda seemed spooky. Mentioning “federal partners” tells me it’s way bigger than technical issues. Thankfully my kids just play sports with Highline so not otherwise inconvenienced.