Bend-La Pine Schools announced Monday it plans to welcome students back to Silver Rail Elementary Nov. 12 — what will be nearly one month after a deadly shooting at the school rocked the community.
In a survey sent out Oct. 22, 86% of Silver Rail families indicated they wanted their children to return to the school, and most said they would prefer if it were within two weeks.
The district said Monday it believes the restoration of the Silver Rail building will be complete by Nov. 9, allowing students to return a few days later “barring any unforeseen circumstances.”
“We recognize that healing happens on different timelines,” the district said Monday. “While we will be ready to welcome students on Nov. 12, we fully respect and support your family’s timeline for returning.”
A schedule for return posted to the district’s website says teachers and staff will take Monday and Tuesday to prepare the school, while Tuesday will offer an opportunity for parents and families to walk through the school.
The restoration work includes new south-facing exterior doors and a new wall separating the impacted classroom from the rest of the school as contractors continue to work.
During the Oct. 15 shooting, a 16-year-old gunman hopped a fence and shot through glass panes at an exterior door before killing three students and a teacher in a special needs classroom. Another staffer wrestled with the shooter before a bystander who followed the gunman into the school shot and killed him.
The return will also come with additional safety measures in the form of a designated School Resource Officer at Silver Rail through the end of the school year, the district said. There will also be additional mental health support for students, plus extra administrators and staff to maintain a safe and supportive learning environment during this transition.
As the district prepares to reopen Silver Rail, it will host a pair of community engagement sessions Nov. 4 and Nov. 5, one with Silver Rail families and staff and another with the broader community.
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