In recent weeks, a handful of safety incidents at our schools have received significant attention in local media and on social media. We know these situations can be unsettling, and we want to share more about how and why we communicate the way we do during an emergency.
In Highline, we follow the Standard Response Protocol (SRP) for all safety situations. Communication decisions are based on the specific response in place, such as Hold, Secure or Lockdown.
We do not automatically send districtwide messages for every safety situation. Doing so can create unnecessary worry or panic for families and staff at schools that are not impacted. It can overwhelm our communication channels during moments when focus and clarity matter most.
Instead, we prioritize timely communication with the school community directly affected, while continuing to assess whether broader updates are needed.
During active incidents, information can change quickly. Early reports, including police scanner traffic or posts shared on social media, are often incomplete or inaccurate. Sharing unconfirmed information, even with good intentions, can add to confusion and distract from the immediate work of responding to the situation and supporting students and staff.
Our commitment is to share confirmed, accurate information with the impacted school communities as soon as it is safe to do so. We encourage families and staff to rely on official district and school communications and to avoid sharing unverified information online. If you have a safety concern, the best step is to report it directly to staff or law enforcement so it can be investigated and addressed.
Thank you for your patience, care and partnership as we work together to keep our school communities safe.