PRESS RELEASE:

Local families, students and community members are invited to join Bend-La Pine Schools’ staff members as they March for Students on Wednesday, May 8 in downtown Bend and La Pine. Hundreds of staff members are expected to join in this afternoon event that will include music, ice cream, and camaraderie in support of an end to the decades-long state disinvestment in public education.

“We want to send a message to our state lawmakers that the time to invest in education is now,” said Janelle Rebick, teacher and president of Bend Education Association. “To fulfill the promise of an excellent public education for each and every student, our elected officials must allocate adequate and stable funding for K-12 schools.”

Rebick said appropriate funding will provide students and staff with the resources that they need to be more successful - from smaller class sizes to increased health and safety services, more learning time and a more well-rounded education.

March for Students – Bend

• 2:30 p.m.- Families are invited to park and walk alongside staff from one of the three rally points: Bend Senior High School, Highland Magnet School,
  or the northwest parking lot at Shops at The Old Mill District

—OR —

• 2:45 p.m. – Community begins to gather at Education Center, across from the library in downtown Bend, walking groups begin to arrive from rally points
• 3:15 p.m. – Speakers begin
• 3:45 p.m. - March begins through downtown Bend
• 4:30 p.m. - Event concludes

March for Students – La Pine

• 2:45 p.m. – Families are invited to park and walk with staff from La Pine Elementary School to La Pine Chamber of Commerce
• 3:30 p.m. - Speakers, music, and ice cream at the La Pine Chamber of Commerce
• 4:30 p.m. - Event concludes

“We hope families and community members will join us in Bend and La Pine as we stand together in support of students and schools,” said Lori Diggs, president of OSEA. “Our students deserve better and we look forward to walking alongside our community as we collectively raise our voices and awareness in support of adequate and stable funding.”

Wear Red

Attendees are encouraged to wear red. Individuals who cannot make the events can submit a photo of themselves wearing red to [email protected]

March for Students is a collaboration between Bend-La Pine Schools’ the districts’ certified, classified and administrator associations and Board of Directors. The event is intentionally timed to coincide with Oregon Education Association’s statewide “Day of Action.”