LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Highline School Board Must Put Academic Goals and Transparency First

Editor's Note: The following Letter to the Editor was submitted by verified Highline Public Schools parent 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.

To the Editor,

Before the Highline School Board recently approved Superintendent Dr. Ivan Duran’s evaluation criteria, I emailed every board member after the agenda was posted. I requested that they include Standard 4: Student Learning and Academic Achievement—or at least allow the standard two-week public review window before taking a final vote.

Instead, the board fast-tracked and approved the criteria in a single evening [Sept. 2]. No discussion occurred regarding the community feedback sent prior to the vote, no answers were provided to my pre-meeting questions, and no response was received after I followed up post-meeting. This silence followed being denied the opportunity to participate via Teams or submit recorded video testimony.

Bypassing their own review process left student academic outcomes completely out of the Superintendent’s performance evaluation. Board members publicly cited the need for "clear alignment," yet established an executive evaluation framework void of measurable classroom performance goals. When parents ask why academic metrics are absent, district leaders claim these matters are handled "behind closed doors."

This complete silence—before, during, and after meetings—raises serious doubts about whether public input is valued at all.

This lack of openness extends to basic meeting participation. While board members routinely participate remotely via seamless Teams video links, community members requesting the same access are denied and forced onto delayed phone lines. Under Washington’s Open Public Meetings Act (RCW 42.30.240), public meetings must afford fair and equal access to all participants.

Furthermore, critical financial and staffing questions remain unanswered:

Procurement Breakdown: Why was the acknowledged $1.25 million "misstep" on the Mount Rainier High School tennis court change order not put out for competitive public bidding?

Staffing Transparency: What specific duties is Principal Tipton performing at district headquarters, and is this a proper use of taxpayer money? Was her sudden reassignment merely retaliation for advocating for her school and students?

Rebuilding trust in Highline Public Schools requires respecting public process, providing equal virtual access, and placing student learning at the center of executive accountability. Our community deserves nothing less.

Sincerely,
Kristen Price
Highline Resident & Community Advocate

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.