“What an outstanding community of parents, grandparents, friends and neighbors we have,” said Bend-La Pine Schools Superintendent Shay Mikalson. “I know that having so many days off has been challenging for families and we appreciate your patience and understanding.”

Mikalson said that thanks to the determination of more than 150 snow removal team members, 12 structural engineers and dozens of staff who have worked behind the scenes or volunteered their time, Bend-La Pine Schools will reopen 30 schools, programs and facilities tomorrow, Wednesday, January 18.

The following schools will open tomorrow at their regular time.

Administration – Education Center

Amity Creek at Thompson School

Bear Creek Elementary

Buckingham Elementary

Ensworth Elementary

High Lakes Elementary

Highland at Kenwood School

Juniper Elementary

La Pine Elementary

R.E. Jewell Elementary

Rosland Elementary

Silver Rail Elementary

Three Rivers School

Westside Village at Kingston School

Cascade Middle

High Desert Middle

La Pine Middle

Sky View Middle

Bend Senior High

La Pine High

Marshall High

Mountain View High

Summit High

Tamarack

Transition Co-op

Maintenance

Transporation, Bend

Transportation, La Pine

Warehouse – Distribution

Bend International School

For this week, students will be released on Wednesday per their school’s full day schedule, rather than the usual School Improvement Wednesday schedule. For a list of full-day release times, visit:

“Giving students a full day tomorrow with their peers and school staff will begin to get them back into their normal school routine and will let our great teachers have a full day with their students,” said Mikalson.

Athletics and activities are being rescheduled with adjusted dates and times for all schools.

“Engineers have completed structural evaluations of all 38 school and work sites for structural integrity,” said Mikalson. “They have now deemed all sites as structurally sound.”

Mikalson said engineers found one school, R.E. Jewell Elementary, to have had structural damage. Repairs are now complete and structural engineers and City of Bend staffers have deemed the school sound and ready to reopen to students tomorrow.

While all sites are now deemed structurally sound, not all sites are yet ready for occupancy. To be cleared, snow loads must be below design capacity and all doors must be cleared to allow compliance with State Fire Marshal code.

Mikalson said that of the eight schools yet to open, crews are continuing to move snow off of roofs and away from buildings, so that they can be ready for occupancy.

“These schools will be opened in the days to come, we will keep updating our community at about 5 p.m. each night with new information,” said Mikalson. “Again, thank you to everyone for their support and flexibility during these trying times. We are excited to get back to doing what we do best: teaching students.”

“I know that many Kenwood families and neighbors have been anxiously awaiting the results of the asbestos test that we sent to a local lab,” said Mikalson. “Results received today confirmed that there was no asbestos in the Kenwood gym and therefore is no asbestos present in the demolition rubble. I think this information will allow many to breathe a sigh of relief.”

For more information and a list of Frequently Asked Questions, please visit: Alerts & Updates

The district has started a Facebook thread to allow business owners a location to share suggestions for keeping students who are not going to school busy in the days to come. It is located at http://bit.ly/2k2pEGN