The Rapides Parish School Board held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for a new wing of classrooms for D.F. Huddle Elementary School on Friday, March 8.

District 62 bond, which City of Alexandria voters approved in 2022, made this new wing possible. It features new classrooms, a conference room and new student bathrooms.

The wing houses the third, fourth and fifth grade students at D.F. Huddle who were temporarily attending class in modular buildings.

“Our students are able to come into a very safe learning environment, our teachers are able to come into a very safe environment to work in,” said Superintendent Jeff Powell. “It just brings a new level of excitement around the work we are doing and helps keep our students and our teachers focused on the things that matter the most when it comes to educating our children.”

The principal and the assistant principal offered observations on the benefits of the new wing to their students.

“We’re able to watch the instructional practices, watch the student achievements, watch the vertical alignment as students move from third grade to fourth grade to fifth grade,” said Principal Belonda Howard Davis.

“Just being able to watch them transition from one way to the next and being able to see their growth and just the beauty of what’s happening in our classrooms,” said Assistant Principal Amber Baysten.