[EDITOR’S NOTE: The following is a Letter to the Editor, written and submitted by a verified resident. It represents the opinion of the author, and does not necessarily reflect the views of South King Media or its staff.]
To the Editor,
There is a widening chasm between Highline Public Schools’ public relations marketing and the reality of how our community is being treated by central administration.
Just this week, the district released a podcast and social media campaign promoting “belonging” and “building community.” Yet, the district’s official printed graduation program for Raisbeck Aviation High School tells a completely different, heartbreaking story.
The long-standing, industry-connected principal who mentored these graduating seniors is entirely missing from the ceremony lineup. Central office administrators have stepped into her place on the stage, effectively barring a deeply trusted leader from celebrating her students’ culmination.
This is not an isolated incident. Across our local schools—from opaque planning around the Cascade rebuild to sudden leadership overhauls at Tyee—top-down mandates and an administrative culture that drives frontline staff into silence are destroying community trust. Our community literally had to build a secure, anonymous email pipeline just to protect local educators who are terrified of professional retaliation for speaking out.
When constructive family feedback is shoved into a multi-month committee pipeline while massive, disruptive administrative decisions are forced through behind closed doors, district governance is failing.
Highline Public Schools will soon be asking local voters to pass crucial upcoming bonds and levies. If current leadership expects Burien and Highline area taxpayers to continue funding this district, they must stop managing by executive decree. True community cannot be achieved through a PR hashtag—it requires transparency, accountability, and basic respect for our educators, parents, and students.
Sincerely,
– Kristen Price
Burien Resident & Highline Public Schools Parent
School District Responds
We reached out to Highline Public Schools for a response to this letter, and here’s what Chief Communications Officer Tove Tupper told us:
“Highline Public Schools is committed to communicating openly with our community while also respecting the privacy rights of our employees and students. Personnel matters often involve confidential information that cannot be shared publicly. We recognize some may have questions or differing perspectives about decisions. Our focus remains on supporting students, engaging with our school communities and making decisions that are in the best interest of the students we serve.”
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