LETTER: Questions Swirl Around Highline’s Capital Construction Leadership Ahead of Bond Vote

Is Highline’s top construction executive leaving? With $595 million on the ballot, questions about leadership, transparency, and election timing remain unanswered by district officials.

Guest Writer

Nov 03, 2026 - 1 min read

Editor's Note: This letter reflects the views and questions of its author, Kristen Price-Joof. The Highline Journal has not independently verified the reported personnel changes or allegations regarding the timing of any announcement. Both the author and The Highline Journal requested confirmation and comment from the district. The district had not responded as of publication.

Attention Burien, Des Moines, Normandy Park, SeaTac, and White Center voters:

Highline Public Schools is asking taxpayers to approve over $500 million in capital bond debt under Proposition 1.

Over the weekend, a formal inquiry was delivered to Superintendent Ivan Duran and the School Board asking them to address serious reports regarding capital bond oversight:

1. Has the Executive Director of Capital Planning & Construction accepted an administrative position in another school district?

2. Did central administration agree to release them from their contract on the condition that the departure not be announced until after Tuesday's election?

3. What is the district's verified succession plan to manage hundreds of millions of dollars in taxpayer-funded construction?

Leadership was given until 10:00 AM Monday to clarify or deny this on the record.

That deadline has passed in complete silence.

If these reports were inaccurate, central office could have cleared the air immediately. Instead, leadership chose silence while actively campaigning for taxpayer approval.

Voters deserve an administration that is transparent about who is running these projects before ballots are cast, not after.

Please share this with Highline neighbors and parent groups before voting concludes today, Tuesday at 8:00 PM.

Kristen Price

Note From the Editor: Letters to the Editor reflect the views of their authors and do not necessarily represent the opinions of The Highline Journal. To submit a letter, article, story idea, or photo for consideration, email info@thehighlinejournal.com.

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