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Superintendent and CFO report enrollment gains, budget outlook and ransomware response
Summary
Superintendent Ivan Duran and CFO Jackie Bridal told the board the district is 542 FTE over budgeted enrollment and expects not to use fund balance for 2024‑25. The superintendent updated the board on a fall ransomware incident and said the district is offering 12 months of credit monitoring to affected community members.
Superintendent Ivan Duran and Chief Financial Officer Jackie Bridal briefed the Highline School District Board on April 14 about enrollment trends, the fiscal outlook for 2024‑25 and the district’s response to a ransomware incident that affected district systems last fall.
Enrollment and budget: Bridal reported March enrollment is 542 full‑time‑equivalent (FTE) students over the projection used in the budget. Additional enrollment will increase revenue and she said the district anticipates not needing to use fund balance for the 2024‑25 fiscal year. Year‑to‑date revenues were approximately 44% and expenditures 47% as of March; property tax collections and the second half of the levy are expected to increase revenues in April and May. Bridal noted special education expenditures are tracking higher than in past years and will be monitored. She outlined that local, state and federal revenue streams are largely performing as expected and described ongoing budget development activities, including CFAC and family action committee meetings.
Ransomware response: Duran reviewed the district’s response to a ransomware attack last fall. A forensic investigation determined an unauthorized actor accessed certain files containing personal information. He said the district regrets the impact and is offering 12 months of free credit monitoring and identity protection services to community members who opt in. Duran asked families and staff with questions to consult the district website for details and next steps.
Why it matters: Enrollment above projection improves the district’s revenue outlook for the year, limiting the need to draw on reserve funds. The cyber intrusion triggered district notifications, remediation efforts and the offer of credit monitoring services; the district described the response as part of ongoing attention to cybersecurity risks affecting K‑12 systems statewide.
Board questions: Directors asked about budget uncertainties tied to the state legislative session (special education and MSOC funding), the possibility of lifting levy collection caps (LEA/LEVY related proposals), and the timing of state allocations. Bridal said the district continues to monitor Olympia developments and will analyze relevant bills when the legislature concludes.
Next steps: Staff will continue budget development work, track state legislative outcomes, and implement the identity‑protection opt‑in process. Bridal and Duran said they will return with updates at future meetings as grant and budget work progresses.
Ending: Directors acknowledged the positive enrollment news and expressed appreciation for the district’s transparency on cybersecurity and budget planning.
