Mom with student in Bossier Parish school: 'Parents with children in sports need to know this'
Plus — Bossier City Mayor Tommy Chandler: "Glutton for punishment?" Fundraiser today for BCPD's Chad Kelly.
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Mom with a student in Bossier Parish school: 'Parents with children in sports need to know this'
A state law that just went into effect this school year is causing concern among some parents with children in Bossier Schools.
BossierNow received this email (we have withheld her name):
"I am a parent of a student in Bossier Parish who attends Benton High School. She is now a third-year member of the Cross Country Team. The season starts for them in summer running and practice with their team. We are two weeks shy of the season. This week my child came home telling me we have 3 homeschool children that are joining the team. As you can imagine she and team were shock. The parents are shocked but according to the principal who I contacted a new law took over Aug 1 2024."
That law, which was detailed in BossierNow's report Back to school: What's different in Bossier Schools for the '24-'25 school year, says students enrolled in an approved home study program can now try out or apply for extracurricular activities and/or interscholastic athletics at the public school in which they are zoned.
The law was supported and passed by State Representative Dennis Bamburg and State Senator Adam Bass.
The mother's email continued:
"So if you know cross country, it's a time and a personal record for yourself to make the top 7. The top 7 go to regional and state. Some of these kids have been trying to make that 7 for years. Other have made it last week. To be told the home schoolers will bump them. So a person who has never practiced with team and never been to the school classroom will represent Benton at state. Does this seem fair or right?"
"To make matters worse, not one parent has been told or notified by the school or coach. We had to hear this from our children! I have contacted my Bossier school board member, my congressman and my senator. Our public school sports are at risk. I feel this is a worthy story. This is just the beginning and I feel parents with children in sports needs to know."
BossierNow has reported on this issue before. When the matter came before the Bossier Parish School Board, three members expressed firm opposition.
"I am very much opposed to this. I am totally opposed to it. It's my understanding while we're talking about athletic issues, that there has been an interpretation this would open up programs such as BPSTIL to homeschool students. And I just have a real problem," District 6 school board member Glen Bullard said. "If you are not a student of this system, then our programs and our extracurricular activities are not available. You wanna participate? Attend our schools."
"If you are not a student of this system, then our programs and our extracurricular activities are not available. You wanna participate? Attend our schools."
District 1's Billie Jo Brotherton was also a 'no.'
"I'm totally opposed to this. In life, we have choices and a parent has a choice. You can go to public school, you can go to private school, you can go to a charter school, or you can homeschool. And you take those choices and you live with it," Brotherton said.
"You're telling us that if Little Johnny wants to try out for cheerleading or whatever, or band or anything else, they make the team, then they're gonna wear a uniform that has our school on it. They're gonna represent our high schools or whatever, middle schools, and they don't even go to school there," Brotherton added. "And we're gonna be responsible for that child, the coach or the club sponsor is gonna be responsible for that child. They're not allowed on our campus if they don't go to our school, but we're gonna allow them to participate. I'm totally against it."
Kent Bockhaus, District 2 school board member, was also skeptical.
"In basketball and baseball, you're limited to an amount of people. So it would seem like to me that if a young man or a young woman attends your school, they should have a right not to be booted off of a team or not make a team by somebody that doesn't even go to school there," Bockhaus said.
However, despite the three members' opposition, and because the issue was now a matter of law, the BSPB voted to approve a local policy complying with the state statute.
Mayor puts term limits election resolution before the City Council — once again
It is almost as if Mayor Tommy Chandler is the proverbial "glutton for punishment." Having rarely succeeded in getting the Bossier City Council to approve anything he has proposed, the Mayor is once again putting a term limits election resolution up for a vote by the council.
The resolution calls for term limits for locally elected officials in Bossier City to be put on the ballot for the December 7, 2024 election.
The same proposal has been voted down twice by the five opposing members of the council.
Nevertheless, the City Council will vote once again on the resolution at Tuesday's meeting.
Traffic reminder: I-20 Industrial Drive interchange closure
The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development reminds motorists that three of the four ramps at the LA 782-2 (Industrial Drive) interchange with I-20 are now closed as part of the ongoing I-20 major rehabilitation project in Bossier City.
"These ramps will now be removed and reconstructed, with the exception of the I-20 eastbound on-ramp, which will remain open during this period," the DOTD said in a release. "Additionally, motorists should expect to encounter intermittent lane closures on Industrial Drive near the on and off-ramps in order to allow the ramp reconstruction work to tie into the roadway."
Drivers may experience brief delays along this section of Industrial Drive, particularly during peak travel times such as the morning and evening commutes.
This interchange closure is scheduled to be in place until late October 2024, weather permitting.
Motorists can access I-20 from the Benton Road, Airline Drive, Barksdale Blvd., or Hamilton Road interchanges in Bossier City.
The Old Minden Road interchange remains closed for continued reconstruction and is anticipated to reopen in mid-September 2024.
Fundraiser to be held today for BCPD Officer Chad Kelly
The Bossier FOP Lodge #39 is raising money for BCPD police officer Chad Kelly, who is battling cancer. The fundraiser's purpose is to assist Chad and his family in offseting any expenses during his time of need, treatment, and recovery.
"We are asking that our citizens would come and support this very worthy cause," said City public information officer Louis Johnson. Donors will receive a hamburger plate and a drink.
The fundraiser will begin at 11 a.m. today at 620 Benton Rd. in front of the Bossier City police station.
Bossier City free time calendar
Live music in Bossier City and other notable events in the area for your free time consideration. If you would like to add an event to the Bossier City free time calendar, send the details to email@bossiernow.com.
Through August 25: The BPCC Theatre and The Cavalier Players will stage a production of Murder at The Howard Johnson's, a light-hearted suspense comedy by Ron Clark and Sam Bobrick. The show will run from August 16 to August 25, 2024, in the Stephen W. Slaughter Theatre in Building C on the BPCC campus.
August 31: Grammy-nominated singer/songwriter Elle King at the Paradise Theatre in the Margaritaville Casino.
August 31: William Lee Martin brings his "King of Cowtown" comedy tour to the Louisiana Grandstand.
September 7: The Cleverlys, a one-of-a-kind, unique comedy and music experience at the Louisiana Grandstand. "If Dolly Parton, Earl Scruggs, and Spinal Tap spawned a litter of puppies, it would be The Cleverlys," says the New York Times.
September 12: Pony Bradshaw makes a rare Louisiana stop at the legendary listening room of Louisiana Grandstand. Catch Pony Bradshaw as he fuses Americana, rock, folk and many other styles.
September 13: Comedian Rodney Carrington at the Paradise Theatre in the Margaritaville Casino.
September 14: Cody Johnson, The Leather Tour at the BGA.
October 18: Grammy-nominated singer/songwriter Darrell Scott at the Louisiana Grandstand.
October 20: Jelly Roll, The Beautifully Broken Tour, with Warren Zeiders and Alexandra Kay at the BGA.
October 26: Daughtry at the Paradise Theatre in the Margaritaville Casino.
November 1-3: Disney On Ice presents Frozen & Encanto at the BGA.
November 16: Creed, Are You Ready? Tour at the BGA with 3 Doors Down and Mammoth WVH.
November 23: William Clark Green brings his "Whole Lotta Lubbock" tour to his debut appearance at the Louisiana Grandstand. Green is tearing up Texas dance halls and filling venues nationwide with his hits like "She Likes The Beatles" and "West Texas in My Eye."
December 13: Creed Fisher at the Louisiana Grandstand.
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