schools
Posted inOpinion

Teachers As the Arbiters of a Massive New Technological Advance? If This Sounds Familiar, It’s Because It Is.

Hundreds of students, parents and educators are urging Bend-La Pine Schools to pump the brakes on AI technology. A recent rollback of an AI chatbot highlights the gaps in oversight.
by The Source Editorial Board

Right now, an active group of Bend-La Pine Schools parents, educators and educational experts are pressing the district to slow its roll on using artificial intelligence tools with students in the classroom. BLPS adopted a policy around AI last year, which outlines a few points on how teachers may use AI with students, but it’s […]

Posted inNews

Locked and Unloaded

Gun safety bill passes Oregon Senate, now on Gov. Kate Brown’s desk
Avatar photo by Jack Harvel

Senate Bill 554 passed the Oregon State Senate after the Oregon House of Representatives modified the text to add storage and safety requirements. The bill would change Oregon laws to allow school districts, public higher education institutions and a few other public buildings the ability to prohibit the carrying of firearms on their property, even […]

Posted inNews

A Return to In-Person Instruction… Mostly

Bend-La Pine Schools announces a return for K-3 Jan. 25; all students will head back at least part-time by Feb. 8
Avatar photo Nicole Vulcan

1/13/20, 4PM: This story has been updated with information on Redmond schools, and a push by some Bend teachers to allow teachers the opportunity to get vaccinated before returning to school buildings. “This made me cry—I’m so happy and so are the kids!” That was the reaction from a mother of two students in Bend-La […]

Posted inNews

It Takes a Village

Tutors, pod networks and community organizations mobilize to fill child care and educational gaps during pandemic
Hanna Merzbach

As families adjust to a new school year in online education, Central Oregon tutoring businesses, pod networks and child care programs are mobilizing to fill gaps in education and child care.

Posted inNews

Hotspots for Kids in Bend-La Pine Schools

With learning going virtual April 1, district comes up with a solution for those without internet at home
Avatar photo Nicole Vulcan

With schools closed at least through April 28 statewide due to the COVID-19 pandemic, students have spent the last week in something of a “emergency weather closure” mode, as it pertains to staying home and doing no school work. With spring break scheduled for next week, that pattern continues for another week. But starting the […]

Posted inOpinion

Letters to the Editor

Letter of the Week:
The Source Staff

In Response to, “Public Health of Pharma Profits” on 4/24 The anti-vax movement has hit a fever pitch. We are now reaping the results of allowing a segment of our population to resist the very serious public health benefits of vaccinations. Diseases that were close to eradication are now in resurgence and the resulting public […]

Posted inNews

‘Day of Action’ Includes Walkouts, Student Marches

On May 8, teachers and students across Oregon are coming together to advocate for school funding
Chris Miller

Some school districts in Oregon are canceling school on May 8 to coincide with the Oregon Education Association‘s “Day of Action”—a demonstration aimed at what school leaders call the state’s decades-long failure to provide funding for kindergarten through high school education. Bend-La Pine Schools are staying open, according to the district, which said its teachers […]

Posted inNews

Endorsement: Oregon State Governor

Vote Kate Brown
The Source Staff

Central Oregon voters have a tough choice in a surprisingly competitive race for governor. Republican challenger Rep. Knute Buehler is a local who would bring welcome attention to the needs of Oregonians outside the Willamette Valley. Independent candidate Patrick Starnes, the third major party candidate on the ballot—who we interviewed during the primary, lacks experience […]

Posted inNews

A New Principal for Summit High

New principal will take the reins after this school year
Avatar photo Nicole Vulcan

Summit High School will officially have a new principal starting July 1. Superintendent of Bend-La Pine Schools, Shay Mikalson, announced Wednesday that Michael McDonald, currently assistant principal at Summit, will take on the new role.  Summit’s current principal, Alice De Wittie, announced in October that she would be leaving the district at the end of […]

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