The past two weeks have reminded us of the resilience and dedication of Highline educators. Even without the usual access to technology and resources, teachers and staff across Highline are finding creative ways to keep students engaged, inspired and learning.
This is innovative learning at its finest—showing flexibility, resourcefulness and an unwavering commitment to Our Promise to know every student by name, strength and need.
Every day, we witness the remarkable efforts of Team Highline, a testament to your extraordinary heart and skill, which has deeply inspired Superintendent Ivan Duran during his visits to 10 schools this week.
“There is great learning happening and students and families are engaged,” Dr. Duran shared. “I am so impressed and proud of this team for coming together on behalf of our students and families.”
We recognize there are a lot of challenges with limited to no access to technology and resources. We appreciate your patience and understanding as we work through this crisis.
The investigation into the cyber incident is ongoing and we do not have a timeline on when systems will be restored. We understand this creates questions and uncertainty. We want to provide clarity where we can. Below are answers to some of the most frequently asked questions.
FAQs: What You Need to Know
What should staff do with their district-issued device?
Digital Transformation is continuing to assess staff devices. We need your help—please ensure your district-issued device remains on campus, plugged in, turned on, and in a visible location. If your device is at home, please bring it back to your worksite and do not log in.
What technology is safe to use?
Currently, Office 365 (including Outlook email and Microsoft Teams), the district website, and ParentSquare are operational for staff to use. Please avoid using ClassLink, Synergy, Google Suite, or other online services authenticated through ClassLink. Principals and assistant principals can access Synergy AdminVUE on their district-provided cell.
Will we receive a paycheck this month?
Yes, payroll is expected to be processed on time, and employees should receive their paycheck on Monday, September 30.
What happened?
An unauthorized actor gained access to certain systems on our network. Our Digital Transformation team immediately identified the unauthorized access and took steps to limit the unauthorized activity. We took several protective measures in response to the incident, including disconnecting our network from internet access—and our phone systems are working intermittently. Consequently, this limited access to certain systems and applications normally used in school operations.
For more detailed information, including FAQs on schedules, calendars, and payroll, visit our Incident FAQ webpage.