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The Vermilion Parish School System is celebrating exceptional academic progress following the release of the 2026 Louisiana Educational Assessment Program (LEAP) results. Districtwide, the percentage of students performing at the Mastery and Above level increased from 43% in 2025 to 46% in 2026, a three-point gain that propelled Vermilion Parish to 6th in the state of Louisiana among all school systems.
The results reflect the collective efforts of students, teachers, school leaders, support staff, families, and the community in maintaining a relentless focus on high-quality instruction and student success.
“These results are a celebration of the incredible work happening every day in our classrooms,” said Superintendent Tommy Byler. “Earning the No. 6 ranking statewide, is something our entire parish can be proud of. More importantly, these gains represent students who are learning at higher levels because of the dedication of outstanding teachers, principals, support staff, and families. We celebrate this achievement while remaining committed to ensuring every child continues to grow and succeed.”
Schools Making Remarkable Gains
Several Vermilion Parish schools recorded significant increases in students achieving Mastery and Above, highlighting growth across every region of the parish.
Among the district’s largest improvements were:
• Kaplan Elementary School, improving 11 percentage points to 47% Mastery and Above.
• Erath Middle School, increasing 10 percentage points to 58% Mastery and Above, making it one of the district’s highest-performing middle schools.
• North Vermilion Middle School, rising 6 percentage points to 57% Mastery and Above.
• Gueydan High School, increasing 6 percentage points to 36% Mastery and Above.
•Indian Bayou Elementary School, climbing 4 percentage points to 61% Mastery and Above.
• Kaplan High School, improving 4 percentage points to 48% Mastery and Above.
• Abbeville High School, increasing 4 percentage points to 20% Mastery and Above.
Additional schools posting gains included:
• North Vermilion High School (+2)
• LeBlanc Elementary School (+2)
• Jesse Owens Elementary School (+2)
• Cecil Picard Elementary School at Maurice (+1), which led the district with an outstanding 62% Mastery and Above.
• Forked Island-E. Broussard Elementary School (+1)
• J.H. Williams Middle School (+1)
The district also recognizes Dozier Elementary School, Meaux Elementary School, and Erath High School for maintaining their strong levels of students performing at Mastery and above.
Excellence Across Vermilion Parish
The district’s improvement reflects years of focused work to strengthen instruction, provide meaningful professional learning, analyze student data, and ensure every child receives the support needed to succeed. The district’s three-point improvement reflects continued progress in strengthening instruction and increasing student achievement.
While the statewide ranking is a significant accomplishment, district leaders emphasize that the greatest measure of success is the continued academic growth of Vermilion Parish students.
“Our work is far from finished,” Byler added. “These results affirm that we are moving in the right direction, but our mission remains the same and that is to provide every student with opportunities to excel and graduate prepared for college, careers, and life. We are proud of our progress and excited about what lies ahead.”

Carl Toups has announced that he will not seek re-election as Justice of the Peace for Ward 1 in Vermilion Parish and has formally notified the Louisiana Secretary of State that he will step down from the position effective June 30, 2026.
Toups was first elected to the office during a special election in 2018 and was subsequently re-elected without opposition in 2020. Throughout his tenure, he has served the Vermilion residents of Ward 1 by performing the duties of the office with dedication and commitment to the community.
"It has been a pleasure and an honor to serve the people of Vermilion Parish Ward 1 in this capacity," Toups said. "I am grateful for the trust and support that the citizens of our community have shown me over the years."
Toups expressed his sincere appreciation to the constituents who placed their confidence in him and allowed him the opportunity to serve.
"I would like to thank all of the residents of Ward 1 for their encouragement, friendship, and support during my time as Justice of the Peace," he said. "Serving this community has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life."
As he prepares to conclude his service, Toups said he has reflected on the days with appreciation.
"While this chapter is coming to a close, I am grateful for all of the coffee chats and kindness received along the way," Toups said. "I remain committed to serving and contributing to our Vermilion community."
Toups' resignation will become effective June 30, 2026, bringing to a close nearly eight years of service as Justice of the Peace for Ward 1 covering parts of Abbeville, Erath and Delcambre.
Further information regarding the process to fill the vacancy will be provided by the appropriate state and parish officials.

March 21, 1934 ~ June 20, 2026

ABBEVILLE — John Eddie Frederick, Jr., beloved husband, passed away peacefully and went to be with the Lord on June 20, 2026, at the age of 92 in Clear Lake, Houston, Texas. He was born on March 21, 1934, in Abbeville, Louisiana.
John dedicated his life to his work, his faith, and his loved ones. He earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, formerly known as Southwestern Louisiana Institute (SLI). After graduation, he proudly served his country in the United States Army before beginning a remarkable 49-year career with the government, including 20 years with NASA.
Known for his kind spirit and generous heart, John touched the lives of many through his dedication to his work and his passion for helping others. Throughout his life, he found immense joy in gardening and spending time outdoors. He also enjoyed bowling and was very competitive, participating in bowling tournaments and generously sharing his love of the sport by coaching youth bowling teams.
Above all, John dearly loved his beloved wife, Annie, whom he cherished for 69 wonderful years. Their marriage was a beautiful testament to love, faith, and partnership. Together, they faithfully served St. Bernadette Catholic Church and were active members of their community. John was a devoted Eucharistic Minister, a longtime member of the Knights of Columbus, and a leader of the ACTS Retreat at St. Bernadette Catholic Church, where he shared his deep love of God with many who became like family to him. His devotion extended to conducting communion services for 9 years at Brookdale Senior Living, where he continued to serve others well into his golden years. He also volunteered with St. Bernadette Christian Action, where his compassionate nature fostered lasting friendships among fellow volunteers providing a food pantry to the community.
John is survived by his loving wife, Annie Theriot Frederick; numerous nieces and nephews; great-nieces and great-nephews; and many cousins.
He was preceded in death by his parents, John and Edia Frederick; and his brother, Donald Ray Frederick.
The family extends their heartfelt gratitude to the many friends and hospice staff who lovingly supported John and Annie during the final stages of his life.
A Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Friday, July 10, 2026, at St. Bernadette Catholic Church, 15500 El Camino Real, Houston, Texas 77062. The church will start receiving friends and family at 9:30 a.m. A rosary will begin at 10 a.m., followed by the Funeral Mass at 10:30 a.m. A reception to follow at St. Bernadette Catholic Church – Parish Life Center.
There will be an additional visitation for family and friends in Abbeville on Monday, July 13, 2026, at Vincent Funeral Home of Abbeville, 209 S. Saint Charles St., Abbeville, beginning at 9 a.m. A rosary will be prayed at 10:30 a.m., followed by a graveside service at 11:00 a.m. at St. Mary Magdalen Cemetery, officiated by Father Matthew Barzare. Those serving as pallbearers will be Jim Tighe, Randy Lege, Mario Charest, Heith Gaspard, Glenn Theriot, and Carrol Theriot. Honorary pallbearers will be Larry Nikiel, Bob Rote, Juan Moreno, Blair Landry, Mike Harden, and Jessie Kurisho.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in memory of John E. Frederick, Jr. to St. Bernadette Catholic Church, 15500 El Camino Real, Houston, TX 77062; telephone (281) 486-0337; or by email at office@stbchurch.org.
In honoring John's legacy, the family invites all who knew and loved him to join them in celebrating a life beautifully lived—one filled with love, compassion, and unwavering faith.
Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Vincent Funeral Home of Abbeville, (337) 893-4661.

Seven weeks after first breaking possible SpaceX news to the Abbeville Meridional , State Sen. Bob Hensgens (District 26) spoke with the Abbeville Meridional about the still-probable SpaceX transaction and what it could mean for Vermilion Parish and the broader Acadiana region.

Abbeville Meridional: Senator, it’s been about seven weeks since you spoke with the Meridional about the possibility of a major aerospace company — widely reported to be SpaceX — pursuing a large land deal in Vermilion Parish. What’s changed since then?
Sen. Bob Hensgens: The momentum has clearly built. What started as serious discussions, I now hear has moved into more advanced negotiations. Of course, I have had no direct negotiations in the process, but my sources say things are moving forward. We’re obviously not at the announcement stage yet, but the trajectory seems positive, and the probability remains high that we’ll see a transformative project here in the near future.

Meridional: We’ve been hearing rumors about this possible deal for quite a while now. Is there any major holdup slowing things down?
Hensgens: That’s a fair question. The transaction was awaiting, in part, the final resolution of ExxonMobil’s coastal lawsuits and the settlement with the state of Louisiana. Now that the settlement has been reached, I expect things to move more quickly. The remaining steps are primarily procedural, and the overall momentum is strong.

Meridional: You’ve been careful not to overpromise. Why do you believe this is still very much alive?
Hensgens: Because the fundamentals line up so well, and because Gov. Jeff Landry and his economic development team have built a proven track record of closing major wins across the state. Their success in landing one mega-project after another — from the massive private investments in North Louisiana data centers to other transformative deals — has created real confidence that Louisiana is open for business and can deliver for visionary companies. Their proactive leadership has been instrumental in advancing this Vermilion opportunity.

Meridional: If this moves forward, what do you see as the biggest economic opportunities for Vermilion Parish itself?
Hensgens: Thousands of high-wage jobs — engineering, manufacturing, construction, operations, and technical roles. These won’t just be temporary; they’ll be long-term careers that can raise family incomes well above our current median and help reduce poverty. We’ll also see major infrastructure improvements and a stronger local tax base. This kind of project diversifies us beyond the beloved traditional industries we’ve enjoyed in oil and gas, agriculture, and fishing.

Meridional: How would this ripple out to the wider Acadiana region — particularly ports, universities, and existing businesses?
Hensgens: Significantly. Our ports and waterways — especially the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway and Freshwater Bayou — become strategic assets for moving large rocket components by barge. That creates opportunities for port upgrades and logistics businesses across the region.
On the university side, UL Lafayette and our other institutions are perfectly positioned for research partnerships, workforce training programs, internships, and engineering collaborations. We already have strong technical talent in Acadiana; this would accelerate that pipeline and help keep our young people here.
For businesses, local fabricators, construction firms, suppliers, and service companies, new demand would arise. Many of the same companies that support oilfield and shipbuilding work are well-suited for aerospace work. We could also see new suppliers locate here over time. It’s a rising tide that lifts communities from Abbeville to Lafayette and beyond.

Meridional: Some residents worry about the construction's impacts on hunting and fishing. How do you address those concerns?
Hensgens: Construction will bring temporary disruption — more traffic, noise, and activity. That’s real, and we have to manage it. But we’ve seen this movie before. When the oil industry came, there were growing pains, yet our grandparents embraced it and made it their own.
On hunting and fishing, Florida’s Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, right next to Kennedy Space Center, proves it’s possible to have world-class space operations and traditional outdoor heritage coexist. Top-class regulated duck hunting and year-round fishing continue there. We can — and must — protect those traditions here while gaining the economic benefits.

Meridional: What advice do you give the school superintendent who is trying to prepare for the future of education in the parish, as well as the police jury, about future roads and drainage south of Abbeville?
Sen. Bob Hensgens: I’ll never deny growing pains on major projects like this massive Starship thing. Between the people of Vermilion Parish, the state's commitment, and the company's generosity, I promise we will handle success well. Will there be bumps to adding 1,000+ permanent workers (and their families) to a parish of about 44,000? Yes—but that’s a problem of riches.
We have strong leadership, resilient communities, and a track record of turning challenges into progress. Let’s turn these worries into action plans—I’m ready to support specific requests or help facilitate meetings with state partners. Let’s remember the deal hasn't been made, but that doesn't mean we can’t start working. Together, we’ll manage this growth responsibly while protecting our culture and way of life.

Meridional: What’s your message to Vermilion Parish families and Acadiana businesses right now?
Hensgens: This is still probable, not guaranteed, but the direction is encouraging, thanks in large part to the Governor’s team. If it happens, it will be one of the largest economic development projects in our parish’s history. We have the chance to blend our hardworking Cajun culture and skilled workforce with the future of space exploration.
When the oil industry arrived, we didn’t turn away — we Cajunized it. I believe we can do the same with space.