By Jeffra Wise DeViney

Cameron Parish School Board met for their regularly scheduled meeting on Monday, Sept. 11, at 510 Marshall Street.

Board members in attendance included Christie LaBove, Dist. 2; Vickie Kiffe, Dist. 5; Telesha Bertrand, Dist. 3; Sharon Picou, Dist. 6; Joseph Delcambre, Dist. 7 and Randall Faulk, Dist. 8. Marsha Trahan, Dist. 2 was absent.

The meeting led off with Administrator Charley Lemons explaining that Sheila Miller, Dist.4 Board member had advised him after the August Board meeting that she was resigning due to family reasons. A notice advertising the vacancy along with criteria to meet was published in the official legal journal, Cameron Pilot, to solicit candidates interested in filling the vacancy.

After accepting Sheila Miller’s resignation, the board moved forward with hearing from three potential candidates who read their qualifications and expressed their reasons why they should be considered for the seat. They were: Haley Baccigaloppi, Shelley Medlock and Mitchel Kelley.

The board then voted to accept Mitchel Kelley to fill the vacancy and he was sworn in by Clerk of Court Susan Racca. He had received four votes; Baccigalopi received two votes. After the swearing in, Kelley assumed the board position, which will be an interim term.

Lemons thanked Miller for her service to the board and for the students as a whole. Miller addressed the board, thanked them for their support and respect in working together.

Kevin Savoie from LSU Cameron Extension office gave his annual report to the board. He advised the board that Brittany Zaunbrecker had taken another job and that they are fortunate to have ten applicants to choose a replacement from, effective Oct. 1, to run Cameron 4-H Program. (The Pilot will run excerpts of Savoie’s report over the next few weeks.)

The original budget for 2022-23 fiscal year was adopted and approved. Insurance issues were outlined by Nancy Sylvester, Arthur J. Gallagher & Co., Public Entry Division. She explained that pricing had gone up 4.3% from last year. It was moved to accept the renewals with a condition that no arbitration be required outside of the state of Louisiana.

Motion was made to approve low bidder McManus Construction LLC for, $294,499 on Hackberry High School old school demo.

To read the rest of this story, please see page three of the print edition of The Cameron Parish Pilot.