By Rita Shirley LeBleu
The 2026 Louisiana Educational Assessment Program (LEAP) scores are out, and Cameron Parish continues to rank among the state’s strongest-performing school systems.
The Parish received the highest high school Mastery+ rate in Southwest Louisiana. Grades 3-8 Mastery+ rate tied with Tier 1 schools in Calcasieu Parish for top honors. Students in grades 3-8 exceeded state averages by 6 percentage points and high school students exceeded state averages by 11 percentage points, according to information shared at the Monday, July 13 Cameron Parish School Board meeting.
That was not the only good news shared in the monthly meeting. In Cameron Parish, all school board employees will receive a $2,000 or $1,000 stipend on Sept. 3, not just teachers and support workers. That’s because the CPSB approved the matter before Governor Landry’s executive order redirecting money to pay teacher and school support workers only.
Changes have been made to the meal and mileage reimbursement policy. Teachers no longer have to stay overnight to be reimbursed for lunch. Meals will be paid for when teachers are engaged in all day activities and lunch is not provided. Receipts will be requested and amounts should be reasonable, said Charley Lemons, superintendent. Mileage reimbursement will be made for miles traveled over and beyond the normal daily commute.
Cameron Parish is gearing up to be ready for students on Aug. 10. Lemons said that school administrator meetings and teacher inservice times have been scheduled. All hires have been made with the exception of a “para” and a “math person.”
Kathy Hayes, business manager, updated the Board on the purchase of portable metal detectors for which a state grant will be used to pay for $60,000 to $80,000 of the $114,000 cost. Bullet proof film is being installed on all office corridors.
Board member Joseph Delacrambe suggested that the metal detectors and other security measures might help lower insurance premiums.
Other projects wrapping up in time for student arrival include flooring at South Cameron. Two of seven bus hoods have been repainted. Hackberry Gym has been converted to a “batting cage situation,” according to Hayes.
James Hoffpauir, Hoffpauir Architects, reported that construction crews are making headway on the South Cameron Gym. The last pour is scheduled before school starts. However, things are moving slow when it comes to receiving substantial money from FEMA. It’s in the queue for payment.
Board members present at the meeting were Marsha Trahan, Vickie Kiffe, Sharon Picou, Joseph Delcambre and Randall Faulk. Absent were Talesha Bertrand, Robert “Mitchel” Kelly and Christi LaBove.