Bossier Parish, Room for Record Number of Students?[Gallery]

Bossier Parish Schools are experiencing growing pains and one newly constructed school - still smelling of fresh paint - may need more space,  especially next year.

Space may be tight this year at the new Legacy Elementary School, which recently had an expansion to bring the total number of classrooms to 42.   Legacy, which will educate some 900 students this year,  was originally built for 320 four years ago.

According to school leaders, the school that's located in the sprawling area of Benton on Swan Lake Road off Airline Drive,  ended up with 440 students that first year.

The school is home for students in Kindergarten through Fifth Grade near the Legacy Subdivision that is adding houses so fast it's now one of the fastest growing areas in Bossier Parish.

School leaders say they're trying to keep up with demand. They have new classrooms, a new cafeteria, gym and this year, a new playground.

A teacher took me on a tour of the school and I saw where they put in walls to separate new classrooms.  Plans are underway to build yet another new school next year.  In fact, the bond issue that passed in April will fund the building of new schools and remodeling of Airline High School

I was told the biggest growth spurt at Legacy Elementary will come next year, if more children start kindergarten than graduate fifth grade.