Family Spotlight

Bend-La Pine Schools has hired Lisa Birk as its new Deputy Superintendent effective July 1. With 13 years of leadership experience in the district, Birk will replace Deputy Superintendent Lora Nordquist, who is retiring after serving the district for 16 years.

Primary responsibilities of the Deputy Superintendent include supporting the planning and coordination of district-wide educational programs. This position plays a central role in achieving the district's goals of increasing elementary-level literacy, helping students find and connect to their purpose, including post-graduation success, and fostering a sense of belonging for all within each of the district’s 33 schools.

“Lisa’s experience and professional pathway in our district provides her with a deep understanding of where we’ve been as a district,” Superintendent Steve Cook said. “Lisa is an educational leader who embraces the values of supporting all students, promoting a culture of transparent action and trust, and strengthening the connections between our schools and administrative team. She is a courageous and decisive leader who brings unique insights, understands and embraces where we are going, and adds energy and vision to the role of Deputy Superintendent. I’m excited to have Lisa step into this pivotal position.”

Birk has worked in the Bend-La Pine district for 17 years and currently is one of two executive directors overseeing elementary programs. Previously she was Principal at Bear Creek Elementary School for two years and at Pacific Crest Middle School for two years. She also served as Assistant Principal at Pacific Crest, Student Services Coordinator/Assistant Principal at Bear Creek, and a special education teacher at Juniper Elementary School.

“I feel lucky to have been part of Bend-La Pine Schools for so many years and I believe in the work we do each day for students,” Birk said. “I'm proud to be part of a team of many committed individuals as we work to advance our mission of Educating Thriving Students. It is an honor to move into this role and I look forward to continuing to serve the students, staff and families of Bend, La Pine and Sunriver.”

Dear Families,

I had hoped we could share good news with you about our Learning Levy and what this new funding would mean for our schools and your students. The outcome was disappointing. Just under half of registered voters in our district turned out, and a majority of them voted against our request for a five-year operating levy.

As disheartening as this is for us in Bend-La Pine Schools, I want to assure you that we will regroup and navigate this funding challenge together. Our commitment to providing a high-quality education for all our students remains steadfast, and we will continue to advocate vigorously for the resources we need.

We will analyze the results of the levy vote and our strategies for engaging with voters, and we will intensify our efforts to raise awareness about the financial realities and needs of our district. We are already deeply engaged in conversations with state leaders around the challenges of meeting the needs of our students with the current state of education funding. We will intensify our efforts to advocate for adequate funding for the two-year funding cycle that begins in July 2025.

To strengthen our advocacy, we are partnering with other school districts facing similar challenges. We recently joined forces with Medford, Salem and other districts and associations across the state to push for adequate state-level funding decisions that benefit all communities. These joint efforts will continue over the next 12 months as we engage with the Legislature and governor through the next legislative session. Our message is clear: The state’s current funding level does not meet the needs of our students. Here’s a link to a short video, in which I proudly participated, expressing to state leaders the urgency of our message.

The Bend, Sunriver, and La Pine communities are resilient, and together, we can overcome this setback. Our focus remains on our students and ensuring they receive the education and support they deserve. I am confident in our collective ability to navigate these challenges with determination and resolve.

Thank you for your continued partnership. Let’s keep moving forward, united in our mission to provide the best possible education for our students.

Steve Cook, Superintendent

With the addition of two makeup school days, the last day of school is Tuesday, June 18. The District added June 17 and 18 to make up for two weather-related school closures in January. June 17 will be a full school day, and students will be dismissed 90 minutes early on June 18.

Other noteworthy schedule changes include:

• Wednesday, June 12, will be a School Improvement Wednesday (SIW) early-release day.
  
• Friday, June 14, will now be a regular (full schedule) day, instead of early release for the last day of school.
  

High school graduation ceremonies, scheduled for June 6-11, are not affected by these changes.

The District designates five potential makeup days for inclement weather/emergency closures at the end of the school year, following the last day of school.

The three emergency closure days this winter took students below state-required instructional hours. Because two of our missed days in January were shorter schedules for School Improvement Wednesdays, this District can reach the state’s instructional requirements by adding the two days in June.

Wednesday, May 15 was an evening to remember in the Mountain View High School auditorium. We recognized 73 staff members from across the district who have distinguished themselves this school year with their leadership, innovation, outstanding professional practice, and positive contributions at work and in the community.

The honorees, nominated by their supervisors, were recognized at the annual event. They include custodians, counselors, kitchen managers, classroom teachers, educational assistants, office managers, bus drivers and others who have had a positive impact on students.

“It’s a wonderful celebration of the Bend-La Pine Schools exceptional staff members who are exemplars of their profession,” Superintendent Steven Cook said. “This is a talented, dedicated and caring group of educators and support staff that bring their commitment and joy to work every single day.”

At the end of the program, the district named 14 finalists for the certified employee of the year and the support staff employee of the year. Those two honors will be announced at the start of the 2024-25 school year.

Support Staff of the Year Finalists:

• Carisa Gregg - Custodial Department
  
• Amanda Caffro - Rosland Elementary
  
• Tom Hollingshead - Caldera High School
  
• Nicole Garroutte - Elk Meadow Elementary
  
• Tiffany Schreiber - La Pine Middle School
  
• Bobbi Nelson - Juniper Elementary
  
• Glen Carey - W.E. Miller Elementary
  

Certified Employee of the Year Finalists:

• Heidi Dixon - Realms High School
  
• Lauren Miller - Cascade Middle School
  
• Cameron Salvitelli - La Pine High School
  
• Terri Wolnick - Bear Creek Elementary
  
• Mary Dean - Elk Meadow Elementary
  
• Kristina Ebner - La Pine Elementary
  
• Emily Curfew - Lava Ridge Elementary
  

Summer break is almost here and for many, it’s a time for resting and creating memories with family and friends. It also comes with stress and challenges. It’s important to stay mindful and take care of ourselves.

Here are some helpful tips for a more stress-free summer:

• Make modifications to your plans and schedule. Consider ways to modify them so they don’t negatively impact your mental health.
  
• Don't forget the power of "no." It's okay to say no to plans if you are feeling overwhelmed.
  
• Plan ahead. Keeping a calendar of events can help you stay on track and be ready.
  
• Talk about your feelings. You might be overwhelmed or missing a loved one. Talking about your feelings with a trusted friend or family member is okay. You are not alone.
  
• Take time for self-care. It's important to take care of ourselves before caring for others.
  
• It’s okay to ask for help and support is available. Acknowledge your feelings and talk to a professional when needed.
  

988: If you or someone you love is struggling with thoughts of suicide, call or text 988. You are not alone. Call or text 988 to connect to staff prepared to provide compassionate, accessible care and support for anyone experiencing mental health-related distress.

• English: Text or Call 988
  
• Español: Llame 988 or envia “AYUDA” al 988

𝗬𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗟𝗶𝗻𝗲 is a free and confidential teen-to-teen help line. Students are encouraged to contact YouthLine via phone, text, chat, and email to talk about anything that may be bothering them. Teens are available to help daily from 4-10 p.m. Pacific Time (adults are available by phone at all other times).

𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗦𝗼𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗲 supports the well-being of our community and can help you quickly find treatment options matched to your needs, regardless of the circumstance. If you or your family members are looking for help with mental health or substance use, this is a complimentary and confidential care coordination service provided by Bend-La Pine Schools.

• Call 888-515-0595. Support is available 24/7/365 in over 200 languages.
  
• Visit caresolace.com/bls and either search on your own or click “Book Appointment” for assistance by video chat, email, or phone.
  

𝗦𝗮𝗳𝗲𝗢𝗿𝗲𝗴𝗼𝗻 allows students and families to report information that involves students, the safety of their fellow students or their school 24-hours-a-day. With SafeOregon, students can report anything from vandalism to cyberbullying via text, phone, email or online.

We hope you have a safe and restful summer break!

Community members are invited to test drive a school bus on a closed course and get a job interview on the spot during the next interactive transportation job fair hosted by Bend-La Pine Schools on Saturday, June 8 from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

The 2024-25 pay range for drivers is $28.26 to $31.21 per hour. Paid training is provided to new hires looking to obtain or renew a Commercial Driver’s License. Learn more on our Jobs page, bls.fyi/jobs, or call 541-355-5700.

The Drive & Apply event takes place at the Bend-La Pine Schools Transportation Facility, 501 SE 2nd Street in Bend.

The Board of Directors for Bend-La Pine Schools will hold its next regular meeting on Tuesday, June 18 at 5:30 p.m. at the Education Center, 520 NW Wall Street in Bend.

For information about board members, meetings and agendas, please visit our School Board page.

Are you curious which district policies and regulations are currently under review? To see proposed changes and give feedback on new language, click here.