Highline Public Schools, a K-12 district in Washington state, has shut down all schools and canceled school activities after its technology systems were compromised in a cyberattack.
In a statement issued Monday, the district confirmed that all schools would remain closed, and all activities, including athletics and meetings, would be canceled on September 9.
However, the district’s central office remains open, and staff have been instructed to report for work. School administrators may also be called to assist in schools if necessary.
“We have detected unauthorized activity on our technology systems and have taken immediate action to isolate critical systems,” the district
said. “We are working closely with third-party, state, and federal partners to safely restore and test our systems.”
The district also acknowledged the incident's impact, especially since it coincided with many students' first day of kindergarten.
"We understand this comes as an unexpected disruption, particularly on the eve of the first day of kindergarten for many of our families," the statement continued.
"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."
