Bend-La Pine Schools has announced that the district plans to reopen Silver Rail Elementary School on Nov. 12. District officials said in a Monday press release that the elementary school will reopen its doors next Thursday “barring any unforeseen challenges.”
An officer is seen at Silver Rail Elementary School on Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026, in Bend, Ore. On Oct. 15, five people were killed in a shooting at the school.
Jenny Kane / OPB
The announcement comes more than two weeks after a deadly shooting at the school on Oct. 15, when a 16-year-old former Silver Rail student shot and killed three students, 5, 8 and 11, and a 25-year-old teacher in a special education classroom. The teenager also critically injured two others before he was fatally shot by a man who saw the teen enter the school and pursued him.
Restoration of the Silver Rail building will continue until Nov. 9, according to the district, followed by teachers and staff returning to prepare classrooms and other learning spaces. Families will have opportunities to do a walk-through of the building before classes resume.
“We recognize that healing happens on different timelines,” the district said in a statement. “While we will be ready to welcome students on Nov. 12, we fully respect and support your family’s timeline for returning.”
The district also said additional safety and support measures will be implemented at Silver Rail, including having a dedicated School Resource Officer on campus through the end of the school year and providing more mental health care services to students.
The district will also temporarily pause its school volunteer program, saying it hopes limiting visitor access will help “staff maintain structured, predictable environments and allow students to reconnect with their teachers, support staff, and peers.”
The district is hosting a series of listening sessions with families and staff members following the deadly shooting to hear concerns and answer questions. Last month, they surveyed families to help guide officials on its reopening plans.
It has two community forums planned this week, one specifically for Silver Rail families on Nov. 4 and another for the broader school community from 5:30-7:30 p.m. on Nov. 5 at Pilot Butte Middle School.
