Education
Editor's Note: The following Letter to the Editor was submitted by verified Highline Public Schools parent Kristen Price. We invited the Highline School District to comment on this letter; we will update with any response.
[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 the Editor:
As Highline Public Schools asks taxpayers across Burien, SeaTac, Des Moines, Normandy Park, and White Center to approve $643.4 million in capital bond and technology levy measures this November, district leadership is actively defending tactics in court that keep basic public records hidden until long after ballots are counted.
When local parents and advocates submitted Public Records Act requests regarding district governance, executive evaluations, and administrative oversight, Highline’s records office assigned initial completion dates as far out as May 2027—a 9.5-month delay. Even basic requests for existing district policies, simple internal memos, or database logs were pushed safely past election day.
In formal court filings submitted on August 7, 2026 under Cause No. 26-2-23235-1 SEA, the District’s legal counsel responded to our lawsuit by defending these multi-month delays, arguing that no statutory violation occurred because the records remain under "ongoing processing."
Claiming a request is under "ongoing processing" while making citizens wait nearly a year for single-page documents is not open government—it is an administrative barrier to public oversight. How can Highline voters make an informed decision on a $643.4 million debt package when basic public records are locked behind automated software delays until months after the election?
Our community strongly supports local students and schools. But true support requires fiscal accountability, open governance, and honest answers from district leadership. Highline taxpayers deserve full transparency before—not months after—we cast our votes.
Kristen Price
Pro Se Plaintiff
Burien, WA
NOTE FROM EDITOR: If you wish to submit a story, photo, article or letter, please email us at info@thehighlinejournal.com Even if you wish to remain anonymous, please include your name and phone number so we may contact you privately. We look forward to hearing from you.
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