Follow-Up: Oregon Governor Signs Emergency Order, State Mobilizes Full Support for Bend School District After Elementary School Shooting
Oregon Governor Tina Kotek on October 26 signed Executive Order 26-28, declaring a state of emergency in the Bend–La Pine School District and the High Desert Education Service District and directing a coordinated deployment of state resources to provide sustained support to both districts in the aftermath of the mass shooting at Silver Rail Elementary School in Bend.
Background: On October 15, a shooting at Silver Rail Elementary School in Bend, Deschutes County, Oregon, killed four students and teachers; the gunman was 16 years old. The attack shocked the state, and the districts have been working on response and recovery ever since.
Kotek said the order is intended to ensure both districts have the resources, flexibility, and sustained support they need to recover. The order directs coordinated deployment of state resources through the Oregon Department of Emergency Management and authorizes the Oregon Department of Education to assist the districts, including through administrative waivers.
The Oregon Department of Education is assigning full-time staff to help the districts coordinate applications for federal recovery grants, including Project SERV funds. The Oregon Employment Department is also deploying staff to Central Oregon to help district employees access Paid Leave Oregon.
The Oregon State Police is expediting background checks for substitute educators, crisis counselors, and other professionals so support personnel can be in place quickly. The Department of Public Safety Standards and Training will provide 240 additional active-threat training opportunities for Oregon law enforcement over the next three months.
Kotek is working with legislative leadership to identify funding through the Emergency Board in December, most immediately for Bend–La Pine: while its federal Project SERV application — which is reimbursement-based — is processed, the funding would deploy substitute educators, cover building repair costs, and maintain recovery coordination and support services.
The Governor's office will also direct all school districts statewide to give parents information on safe firearm storage. Oregon law, ORS 166.395, requires that unattended or uncontrolled firearms be securely locked and stored, a requirement aimed at reducing the risk of firearms being accessed improperly.
"My heart remains broken for the students, families, school staff, and entire Bend community," Kotek said. State Senator Anthony Broadman and State Representative Jason Kropf, both of Bend, also issued statements supporting the state's support efforts.
Source: GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: Tony Miller / Wikimedia Commons（公共领域）
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