The relationship between Barksdale Air Force Base and the Bossier Parish School system is described by school Superintendent DC Machen as outstanding.
Two years ago the base opened new housing units on the base's East Reservation that created a problem for parents.
Currently there are four hundred and thirty-nine students on base, many who attend school in the Bossier City District.
Last year talks about a proposed school on the base was a possible solution.
But Machen says that was never the intent. "It was a recommended option that could have been available when we were looking for property," said Machen.
Right now bossier is facing a problem of its own. Overcrowded schools in its Haughton District.
But a solution for both the overcrowding in Haughton and the distance between base housing and Bossier schools came from the passing of the $210 million construction bond issue last April. "Once we get the new middle school built in Haughton, we will convert the existing middle school to a K-5 school and that will give us relief at Rhodes, Platt and Princeton," said Machen.
The gate near Haughton would provide quicker access to the east reservation housing. One additional wrinkle is a KCS rail line next to the gate. Parish president Bill Altimus says it will take some time to get this problem straightened out. "It's probably gonna be a year though realistically by the time we're finishing up the plans now, when we get the plans we'll submit those to the feds in order to obtain the funding," said Altimus.
But while they wait it's class as usual for the students on base as well as off.