Maintenance crews continue to work around the clock to clear snow from Bend-La Pine Schools’ rooftops. At this time, snow removal on five school rooftops is now complete, eight are underway and 20 rooftops are scheduled to be cleared in the coming days. Due to low snow accumulations, four sites did not require snow removal ‑ the district’s distribution center, the Bend and La Pine transportation departments and the maintenance facility.
The attached document shows progress to date. This document will be updated daily on our website's Alerts & Updates webpage at about 5 p.m. until work is complete.
“Once all of this is finished, we will be able to make decisions about delays or changes to Tuesday’s school schedule,” said Superintendent Shay Mikalson. “At this point we are hopeful that classes will resume for most, if not all, students on Tuesday.”
Mikalson says that the district will continue to share updates each night by 5 p.m., through Monday, January 16.
Executive Director of Facilities Mike Tiller said that three large rock drilling air compressors, 30 snow blowers and a snow slide are helping to expedite the work of dozens of men and women using snow shovels to clear more than 2 million square feet of rooftops on schools in Bend, La Pine and Sunriver.
“Once snow has been removed from rooftops, structural engineers and staff will complete secondary inspections at school sites where visual evidence of sagging interior ceilings was reported earlier this week,” said Tiller.
“Our community is really rallying around our teams,” Tiller said. “Contractors have joined our removal efforts and some great folks from a local real estate company even dropped by our schools today with warm coffee and hot chocolate for the crews. That kindness really goes a long way to keeping us motivated when temps are in the single digits and the snow is deep.”
Tiller said that once snow is removed from rooftops, crews will begin preparing for the possible flooding that is expected to occur early in the week.
“We have been in close communication with our partners at the city and county who are urging homeowners, business owners and schools to direct melting snow away from structures and clear storm drains and swales,” he added.
More information from our community partners about the anticipated snow melt and flood prevention can be found at Flash Alert.
NOTE: The next Bend-La Pine Schools update is expected to be shared on Sunday, January 15 by 5 p.m.