Resident urges district to keep school grounds open, restore Juniper gate and address Pilot Butte pick-up safety

A Bend resident used the public-comment period to commend the district for recently opening school grounds after hours and raised three community access and safety requests.

Robin Vora said she asked the board last year to open school grounds so residents could walk tracks and use facilities, and thanked district staff — naming a staff contact — for implementing the change. She noted some operational glitches remain, including substitute custodians not always getting the message and gates sometimes remaining closed on weekdays, and she suggested the district issue a press release to publicize the policy so more community members know the grounds are available.

Vora’s second request related to a pedestrian pathway near Juniper Elementary: she said the city and district appear to have different ideas about a path from Neff to Juniper and asked the board to consider reopening a gate at the northeast end of Juniper Elementary (as it was before COVID) so students could walk from Neff without using a busier crossing.

Her third ask concerned Pilot Butte Middle School dismissal: Vora said parents frequently park in the street and in bike lanes when picking up students. She urged the district to work with the city to add a right-turn lane or otherwise discourage parking that blocks bike lanes and vehicle flow.

Why this matters: Access to school grounds, pedestrian routes to elementary schools and safe parent pick-up procedures affect neighborhood mobility, student walking routes and community use of district facilities. Vora suggested a communications push and coordination with municipal partners to resolve remaining operational and safety issues.