Maupin fourth-graders at Bend museum kept from violence

It was meant to be another fun field trip to the High Desert Museum for a group of fourteen fourth graders from Maupin Grade School.

“We’re a small, isolated community,” South Wasco School District Superintendent Ryan Wraught said Wednesday. “We’re always trying to get our kids out in the world.”

The fun day turned deadly when gunshots were fired at the museum, as an OSP trooper killed a man who had assaulted a museum staff member.

Wraught heard about the incident from the teacher who accompanied the kids to the museum.

“I felt panic,” Wraught said. “Is everybody OK? That was my first feeling, for sure, was, is everybody safe?”

Shortly after, fear turned to relief, when he learned that the kids and four adults on the field trip were all safely evacuated by museum staff.

“As soon as they realized there was some kind of threat, they moved everybody back of the museum into different classrooms,” Wraught said. “It was wonderful how they handled the situation.”

He said the children were never in close proximity to the event and were oblivious to what exactly was going on.

“They didn’t see anything,” Wraught said.

Wraught said he’s grateful for the actions of the museum staff and is writing them a thank-you letter.

“You know that situation, protecting the adults and the kids there, I can’t thank them enough,” Wraught said.

The High Desert Museum remained closed on Wednesday but is scheduled to reopen on Thursday.

In a statement on the museum’s Facebook page, executive director Dana Whitelaw said:

“We are thankful for the scores of emergency responders who came to our aid (…) yesterday and for the outpouring of community support that we’ve received.
Our thoughts are with the Oregon state trooper who responded to the crisis, to our staff, volunteers and guests who were here yesterday and to the family of the deceased assailant.”

Central Oregonians are standing behind the museum. In a Facebook post, Melinda Kruse said: “We just renewed our annual membership. My kids love the museum. We will be back and we will continue to support you.”

School officials agree.

“I’m just happy they had the correct procedures in place to protect the people that were there,” Wraught said.

He said the school is already planning their next trip to the museum.

Meanwhile, Barnes Butte Elementary Principal Jim Bates in Prineville said a group of the school’s second-graders were scheduled to visit the High Desert Museum on Wednesday. That field trip was obviously canceled, but Bates said the school is planning on going to the museum again in the future.