text: BOSSIER CITY, La. (KTAL/KMSS) – The Bossier Parish school district will be asking voters to renew three tax millages on the April 2022 ballot in order to continue funding teacher and employee salaries and maintenance and operations in the growing school system.
  “Last night, the Bossier Parish School Board voted unanimously its intent to declare to be on the April 2022 ballot to renew three tax millages,” Bossier Parish Schools Superintendent Mitch Downey announced during a news conference Friday morning. “I want to stress that these are renewals, they are not new taxes, but they are crucial to our school system and its operations for our continued and future success.”
  Census 2020 data shows Bossier is the only NWLA parish to grow significantly since 2010	
  Downey said two of the millages fund the majority of the existing teacher and employee salaries and the other fund the maintenance and operation of the school system and learning environments on a daily basis.
  “At a time when teachers and support personnel are in greater need because of the shortage and its continuing impact on school systems across the country, we want to ensure that we keep great teachers in our classroom, quality bus operators on our buses, cafeteria workers and maintenance employees, want to be able to be certain of our financial future in the school system.”
  Downey believes renewing the millages is necessary because of the exponential growth of the school district in recent years.
  “We’re fortunate to be one of the top-performing public school systems in the state, the second fastest-growing public school in the state, and we are located in one of the fastest-growing parishes in the state.”
  The Bossier Chamber of Commerce also expressed support for the renewals at the news conference.
  “With nearly 23,000 students in our public school system, 34 schools, and over 1400 teachers with more than half at an A or a B grade, we are proud to stand here in support of these renewals that will be on the ballot next year,” CEO and president, Lisa Johnson said.
  “The Bossier Chamber recognizes the vital contribution the Bossier Parish school system, its teachers,
  administrators and other staff make to the success of business and quality of life in Northwest Louisiana,” said Barry Regula, Chairman of the Board of the Bossier Chamber of Commerce and Vice President of Margaritaville Casino Resort and Boomtown Casino.
  Download the ArkLaTexHomepage app to keep up with the latest top stories, breaking news, weather, sports, and more!
  Copyright 2021 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
  Share this story
  More Stories
  Body found behind Shreveport dealership near where elderly woman went missing
  by Carolyn Roy / Dec 4, 2021
  SHREVEPORT, La. (KTAL/KMSS) – A body been recovered from a drainage ditch behind the Chevyland dealership on Youree Drive early Sunday morning is believed to be that of an elderly woman reported missing earlier this week.
  Daisy Walker, 76, was last seen Tuesday evening at her Towne Oaks South apartment not far from the dealership, where she was last seen when she was put to bed around 8:30 p.m. Police issued a Silver Alert, noting that Walker suffered dementia, a condition that may have impaired her judgment.
  Read the Full Article
  Parents captured after son charged in deadly Michigan high school shooting
  by The Associated Press / Dec 4, 2021
  PONTIAC, Mich. (AP) — The parents of a teen accused of killing four students in a shooting at a Michigan high school were caught early Saturday, several hours after a prosecutor filed involuntary manslaughter charges against them, officials said.
  James and Jennifer Crumbley were captured in a commercial building in Detroit that housed artwork, Detroit Police Chief James E. White told a news conference. White said the couple “were aided in getting into the building,” and that a person who helped them may also face charges.
  Read the Full Article
  Live
  YMCA of Northwest Louisiana sets its sights on new Bossier City location
  by Christa Swanson / Dec 3, 2021
  SHREVEPORT, La. (KTAL/KMSS) – The YMCA of Northwest Louisiana will be presenting a proposal to build a new YMCA in Bossier City.
  Bossier City Council will hear the proposition during their meeting Tuesday, Dec. 7. The new facility would cover 65,000 square feet and is estimated to create approximately 150 jobs.
  Read the Full Article
  Video
  Top Stories
  Schriner’s Hospital fires employees for refusal to vaccinate
  Video
  First probable Omicron variant case reported in Louisiana
  Video
  Salvation Army applauds Shreveport-Bossier support of Angel Tree program
  Video
  ‘It felt like a bomb’: Massive explosion levels Oklahoma City home
  Video
  Bossier mayor: Investigation into criminal activity involving former police chief concluded
  Airline HS administration sends message to parents after social media threat
  Barksdale marks end of an era for weapons system in decommissioning ceremony
  Early voting for Louisiana’s Dec. 11 election ends Saturday
  Video
  Oklahoma man extradited to Shreveport, accused of killing daughter’s boyfriend
  99 percent of Ochsner Health employees follow vaccination policy, 280 let go over COVID-19 vaccine mandate