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Bend-La Pine Schools continue snow removal work

KTVZ

Maintenance crews continued to work around the clock Saturday to clear snow from Bend-La Pine Schools’ rooftops in the wake of Thursday’s collapse of the Kenwood School gym.

Here’s the update on snow removal and safety issues, released in the.late afternoon.

At this time, snow removal on five school rooftops is now complete, eight are underway and 20 rooftops are scheduled to be cleared in the coming days.

Due to low snow accumulations, four sites did not require snow removal: the district’s distribution center and the Bend and La Pine transportation departments and the maintenance facility.

“Once all of this is finished, we will be able to make decisions about delays or changes to Tuesday’s school schedule,” said Superintendent Shay Mikalson. “At this point, we are hopeful that classes will resume for most, if not all students on Tuesday.”

Mikalson said the district will continue to share updates each night by 5 p.m., through Monday .

Executive Director of Facilities Mike Tiller said three large rock drilling air compressors, 30 snow blowers and a snow slide are helping to expedite the work of dozens of men and women using snow shovels to clear more than 2 million square feet of rooftops on schools in Bend, La Pine and Sunriver.

“Once snow has been removed from rooftops, structural engineers and staff will complete secondary inspections at school sites where visual evidence of sagging interior ceilings was reported earlier this week,” Tiller said

“Our community is really rallying around our teams,” Tiller said. “Contractors have joined our removal efforts, and some great folks from a local real estate company even dropped by our schools today with warm coffee and hot chocolate for the crews. That kindness really goes a long way to keeping us motivated when temps are in the single digits and the snow is deep.”

Tiller said that once snow is removed from rooftops, crews will begin preparing for the possible flooding that is expected to occur early in the week.

“We have been in close communication with our partners at the city and county who are urging homeowners, business owners and schools to direct melting snow away from structures and clear storm drains and swales,” he added.

More information from our community partners about the anticipated snow melt and flood prevention can be found at http://www.flashalertbend.net/

Site Site Inspected Status

Administration 1/12/17 Snow Removal In Progress
Amity Creek 1/12/17 Complete
Bear Creek 1/12/17 Snow Removal In Progress
Buckingham 1/12/17 Snow Removal In Progress
Elk Meadow 1/13/17 Scheduled
Ensworth 1/12/17 Complete
High Lakes 1/13/17 Scheduled
Highland/Kenwood 1/12/17 Complete
Juniper 1/12/17 Scheduled
La Pine Elementary 1/12/17 Scheduled
Lava Ridge 1/13/17 Scheduled
Pine Ridge 1/13/17 Scheduled
Ponderosa 1/13/17 Scheduled
RE Jewell 1/12/17 Snow Removal In Progress
Rosland 1/12/17 Scheduled
Silver Rail 1/13/17 Scheduled
Three Rivers 1/13/17 Scheduled
WE Miller 1/13/17 Scheduled
Westside Village / Kingston 1/12/17 Complete
Cascade 1/12/17 Snow Removal In Progress
High Desert 1/13/17 Scheduled
La Pine Middle 1/12/17 Snow Removal In Progress
Pacific Crest 1/13/17 Scheduled
Pilot Butte 1/12/17 Scheduled
REALMS 1/13/17 Scheduled
Sky View 1/13/17 Scheduled
Bend High 1/12/17 Scheduled
La Pine High 1/13/17 Snow Removal In Progress
Marshall 1/12/17 Complete
Mt. View 1/12/17 Snow Removal In Progress
Summit 1/13/17 Scheduled
Tamarack 1/13/17 Scheduled
Transition 1/13/17 Scheduled
Maintenance 1/13/17 Not Necessary
Transportation Bend 1/12/17 Not Necessary
Transportation La Pine 1/12/17 Not Necessary
Warehouse-Distribution 1/12/17 Not Necessary

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