The district has set a shorter first day and family walk-throughs before students return to campus
Silver Rail Elementary School in Bend is preparing to welcome students back on Thursday, November 12, nearly four weeks after the October 15 shooting. In its November 2 update to families, Bend-La Pine Schools said restoration should be complete by November 9. The return date depends on that work finishing without an unexpected delay.
The first day back will run from 7:45 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. The district plans a full day on Friday, November 13, from 7:45 a.m. to 2:15 p.m. Families will have opportunities to walk through the building on November 10 or 11 before students return; the district said it will provide visit details separately.
How the school plans to welcome families back
Teachers and staff are scheduled to prepare classrooms on November 9 and 10. A school resource officer will be on campus through the end of the school year, and the district says it will add student support specialists, an administrator and other staff during the transition. The school volunteer program will pause while students reconnect with teachers and classmates.
The district also acknowledged that families may need different amounts of time before sending children back. Its planned reopening is a date when the school expects to be ready, not a deadline for every child to return. OPB reported that the district surveyed families and is holding community listening sessions this week.
The October 15 attack killed three students and a teacher and injured two other people. TOL’s earlier reporting on the shooting provides background. Families should use the district’s Silver Rail information hub for any change to the return schedule and for resources that are available before classes resume.
