Keeping the Momentum Going

From 2019 to now, Hannah Smith Mason has been delivering her prior campaign promises of improving communications, boosting school-esteem, and increasing efficiency. She has advocated effectively for the schools, students, friends, businesses, and neighbors in District 8 and throughout Lafayette Parish. She voted to open schools as soon as the Governor allowed during the pandemic and continues to strengthen relationships between the School Board and community leaders in LEDA, LCG, ACA, LAPESC, Love Our Schools, Boys and Girls Club, Rotary, YMCA, UL Lafayette and many others. Under Hannah's leadership, Lafayette Parish has risen to #1 Large District in the State and Louisiana has risen to 32nd in the Nation in Education.

The following has been accomplished in Hannah's term through requests to the Superintendent, proper budgeting, and new policies agreed upon by the 9 member elected School Board and teamwork by the entire Lafayette Parish School System  along with its community partners:

● New Lafayette High School built and opened in July 2025 (Planning Committee since 2019)

● ReBUILD of LJ Alleman Arts Academy projected to open Fall 2026-27

● ReBUILD of Acadiana High classrooms and administrative offices

● New SOUTHSIDE STADIUM (Fall 2025)

● NEW LPSS HEADQUARTERS for our entire community to be proud of as a leading district in Louisiana (this was a zero sum move in selling old HQ to Lafayette Airport and moving to Rue d'Iberville property)

● Consolidated Gifted Program to increase efficiency and allocation of resources (March 2024)

● RAISED TEACHERS SALARIES- now new teachers start at $50,000 (since 2025)

● GROWING OUR OWN TEACHERS- Partnered with EdRising- a program which compensates and encourages high school and  university students to enter the field of Education

● Increased enrollment both Gifted Program and French and Spanish Immersion starting in 2024

● In addition to NEW WING at Woodvale completed, ADDITIONAL NEW WING for 5th Grade and Cafeteria expansion at Woodvale Elementary

● NEW WING completed at LJ Alleman (2021)

● NEW WING completed at Broadmoor Elementary for 5th grade moved from Edgar Martin Middle (2021)

● Butler buildings removed from Broadmoor, Woodvale, and LJA, LHS, Middlebrook and many more campuses across district

● NEW CROSSWALKS around Woodvale, LJA, and Broadmoor in partnership with LCG and City Councilwoman Liz Webb Hebert

● NEW SCHOOLS BUILT (2022): Carencro Heights, now named Bob Lily Carencro Elementary, Prairie Elementary, and Truman Elementary at new location

● Improved drive-up appearances and fencing at many schools including Youngsville Middle and GT Linden in partnership with Mayor Ken Ritter

● Provided WiFi connectivity DECREASING DIGITAL DIVIDE in partnership with Love Our Schools and many community partners

● 1-to-1 devices for the entire district- EVERY STUDENT HAS A TABLET

● ENHANCED SCHOOL SAFETY AND SECURITY measures in partnership with Sheriff Mark Garber and the Lafayette Police Dept

● HIGHEST PERFORMANCE SCORES in LPSS district history- #1 in Large Districts in the state

● D schools reduced from eight (8) in 2019 to just one (1) in 2022
 

● No more F schools since 2022
 

● INCREASED GRADUATION RATE
 

● Students with Disabilities achieved the highest performance level in district history
 

● #5 in LA for score growth increases for years 2019-2022
 

● Social and Emotional support for students significantly increased
 

● TRIPLED DUAL ENROLLMENT OPPORTUNITIES for high school students to get college credits while in high school
 

● INCREASED # of WORK-FORCE READY graduates through career and technical education improvements and business community partnerships

● Better SCHOOL WEBSITES by streamlining them across LPSS and complete overhaul of the main www.lpssonline.com where important updates, departments, events, and good news are easier to find