School board amends vaping policy: in‑school suspension for first offense; device testing fee removed

The Tangipahoa Parish School Board approved an amended vaping policy after review by Forethought, the district’s legal counsel. The board accepted administration’s proposed edits and struck a provision that would have made parents financially responsible for testing devices.

Forethought indicated the proposed policy changes were legally permissible, and administrators recommended edits. "Everything looked pretty much good as far as legality wise," a board member summarized during discussion, referencing Forethought’s review.

Nut Graf: The amendments change disciplinary responses and district cost responsibility: administrators and the policy committee moved the first offense penalty from a three‑day out‑of‑school suspension to a three‑day in‑school suspension; the second offense penalty was reduced from 10 days out‑of‑school to five days out‑of‑school. Board members also debated whether parents should pay for testing devices and agreed to remove the requirement after district staff noted each device costs about $4.

Board members discussed how mandated education would be delivered; administrators said they could provide in‑house options or recommend free online courses. One board member said the district could "eat" the device cost given the low unit price, and a motion to approve item I as amended and to strike the parental payment provision passed on electronic vote.

Ending: The district will publish the revised policy as amended and return in committee if further legal or administrative clarifications are needed.