On Thursday night, Bend-La Pine Schools Superintendent Dr. Steven Cook convened an open community meeting at the district office to address lingering concerns following the mass shooting at Silver Rail Elementary that claimed the lives of three students and a teacher.
Community voices and parental concerns
Parents and community members took the floor to share their grief and demand concrete actions. One parent recounted a father’s heroic effort to shield others, while another highlighted the tragic reality of a teacher forced to defend herself with only a cell phone in a gun‑free school zone.
Several attendees pressed the district to allocate additional funds for safety measures, specifically requesting more school resource officers. “You can’t put a price on a life,” one resident said, emphasizing that budget constraints should not outweigh student protection.
District response and funding efforts
Superintendent Cook explained that the district had only recently become eligible for extra federal assistance. “We have four to five applications out for federal grants for situations like this,” he said, indicating that the district is actively pursuing additional resources.
Cook also pledged that the district would continue reviewing every aspect of its emergency response, acknowledging the frustration expressed by a parent who waited over an hour to receive notification after the shooting.
Expert support on collective trauma
Representatives from the National Mass Violence Center attended the meeting to offer guidance to families coping with both individual and collective trauma. Angie Moreland, a spokesperson for the Center, explained that mass‑violence events affect entire communities, not just the direct victims.
The experts emphasized the importance of mental‑health resources, community solidarity, and transparent communication to help the city heal.
Next steps
The district said unanswered questions from the forum will be addressed in follow‑up communications. Officials also indicated plans for additional sessions to keep the dialogue open and to ensure that safety improvements are implemented promptly.
Local leaders reiterated their commitment to protecting students, supporting grieving families, and restoring confidence in the school environment.
Original reporting: KPTV FOX 12 Portland (news) — read the source article.
