A new federal reading grant could mean new heights for Iberia Parish students from day care to fifth grade.  

The Striving Reader’s Comprehensive Literacy Program grant would fund approximately $350,000 each year for three years with Congressional approval. The money would be used to train teachers and supply students with the most advanced materials in teaching pre-literacy reading and writing to disadvantaged students, English learners and students with disabilities. 

“We’re going to have a cohort at each particular school. Some teachers will receive special training because they will lead the effort,” Carey Laviolette, assistant superintendent of instruction, said. Her office will apply for the grant before the deadline Nov. 10.

The grant isn’t the first of its kind and the administration has had success obtaining others like it in the past. This one does have a distinction. 

“This one focuses on the use of Tier I curriculum and assessments these measures are highly aligned to state standards,” Laviolette said.

The grant targets students at the four most economically disadvantaged elementary schools in the parish as well as one day care. The schools that were chosen as part of the grant were Jeanerette Elementary School, Johnston Hopkins Elementary School, Park Elementary School, St. Charles Elementary and a day care to be named later. 

Laviolette said that doesn’t mean that other schools will be left out of the effort. 

“The staff will braid additional funds such as Title I and Title II to provide similar professional development for the other elementary schools in the district,” she said.

Also Wednesday, two special honors were recognized.

First was Principal of the Year. The recognition was given in each school level — elementary school, middle school and high school.

Iberia Parish Schools Superintendent Dale Henderson said the honor goes to each principal selected by their peers. This year’s recipients were Tabitha Schwarz of Jefferson Island Road Elementary School, Dina Bourque of Iberia Middle School and Karen Bashay of Loreauville High School.

The parish also was recognized for being home to two of the Top 15 schools in Acadiana. The award collects data on high school testing as well as college performance to rank its honorees. This year’s top schools were Delcambre High School and Loreauville High School. 

Delcambre High School Kimberly Messman and Bashay were on hand to accept their awards.

The parish again received accolades Wednesday for being among the top 100 College Level Examination Program sites. Laviolette said the parish earned the honor by providing the most opportunities for students to take the exam and earn college credit.

In other business Wednesday:

• Renovations to Dodson Elementary School and additions and renovations to North Street Elementary Schools were approved in accordance with approved budgeted expenses of the 2013 bond issue monies.

• A resolution was read declaring November “Veteran’s Month.”

• An amendment was made to the Iberia Parish School Board Sick Leave Policy manual, making grandparents and grandchildren included under the definition of “immediate family” often used in reference to leave for death in the family.