Barksdale high school students can now enroll in high school of choice Published Aug. 18, 2011 By Maja Z. Stevanovich 2nd Bomb Wing Public Affairs BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. -- The Bossier Parish School Board recently worked with officials at Barksdale to allow high school students living on Barksdale the opportunity to choose their school. Current and future students living on Barksdale zoned to attend Bossier High School now have the option to transfer to any of the Bossier district high schools including Parkway, Airline, Benton and New Tech at Plain Dealing. "This program may increase students' competitiveness for college entrance and is a large step forward from the Bossier Parish school board in recognizing the children of military families have different needs," said Col. Crinley Hoover, 2nd Mission Support Group commander. The pilot program begins this school year, and those students choosing to attend a different high school must provide their own transportation. "With our students coming from many different locations with different educational backgrounds - this program gives our students a chance to choose a school that is closer to the base and can provide them with the course load they need or want," said Alisha Hayes, Barksdale parent teacher association president. This is a major benefit for the students as they work toward graduating on time with their class, she said. "The high school choice program was a direct result of involvement by parents, leadership, community partners and elected officials with our local educational hosts, the Bossier Parish school board," Hoover said. Allowing students to choose a high school will hopefully make both parents and students more satisfied with their overall Barksdale experience, Hayes said. "This involvement has gradually increased visibility on the challenges military children face and we are hopeful this is the first of several such steps providing flexibility to our families," he added. To transfer, students must withdraw from Bossier High School prior to enrolling in the school of choice. Parents must then complete the Barksdale Air Force Base resident high school student transfer form and submit it with the following documents: their child's birth certificate, social security card and Louisiana state immunization record. As far as athletic eligibility, the Louisiana High School Athletic Association rules state that a student becomes ineligible to participate in sports for one calendar year should they transfer to another LHSAA school. It is the parents' responsibility to complete a waiver through the school or the coach if they wish for their child to participate in athletics during the probationary period, Hoover added. Parents are highly encouraged to join the Barksdale PTA regardless of the school their children attend as it allows the parents to have their voices heard and address issues early on, he said. Currently, high school students attend many different schools in the area. In the long run the students will most likely come together in just a few schools, strengthen the ties between neighbors through athletics, car pooling and even homework help, Hoover said. The high school choice pilot program applies to all incoming freshmen and returning students attending Bossier High School. For more information contact Alisha Hayes, Barksdale PTA president at 318-456-3113.