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Colonel Chris Hansen proposes opening base housing to non–DoD families to boost Stevenson Elementary enrollment
Summary
At a Mountain Home District board meeting, Colonel Chris Hansen proposed allowing non–DoD families to live on base via the "gunfighter pass" sponsorship program so their children can attend Stevenson Elementary, citing falling enrollment and suggesting rank-structure and sponsorship tweaks; trustees asked questions but took no formal action.
Colonel Chris Hansen, mission support group commander, told the Mountain Home District Board of Trustees he and Superintendent Gilbert have discussed steps to address falling enrollment at Stevenson Elementary and offered a local plan to help.
"We're going to open up the base to non DoD affiliated families," Hansen said, describing a process that would enroll sponsored civilians through the gunfighter pass program and require background vetting ("if they have a felony I'm sorry we will not be able to allow them on base"). He said the Air Force is also examining whether adjustments in rank-structure assignments for on-base housing could reduce family moves to Boise and help stabilize school populations.
The proposal would leave local school-assignment choices to the district, Hansen said, and rely on sponsorship and base vetting. He said he had discussed the idea with Colonel Gunter and that base officials were willing to explore the mechanics if trustees were interested.
Trustees pressed for details on whether the base would actively recruit families to live on base or restore family-oriented programming that had waned since COVID restrictions. Hansen said family events and housing-advertising already occur, but emphasized limits: "I can't favor families over a single person ... that's not legal," he said, noting the Air Force must follow equal-housing rules and that any change would be a compromise rather than a complete solution.
Superintendent Gilbert thanked Hansen for the effort; staff and base officials said they would continue planning if the board wants to pursue the option. The board did not vote on the proposal during the meeting.
Why it matters: Stevenson Elementary is coping with lower enrollment, which affects classroom organization, staffing and program choices. Allowing non–DoD families on base would change long-standing eligibility and housing arrangements and would require coordination among Air Force housing officials, base leadership and district administrators.
What’s next: Hansen said base planners will continue exploring logistics with the district; the board must decide whether to request staff to pursue formal agreements or further study. No formal motion or policy change was recorded on the proposal in the meeting minutes.
