Tangipahoa Parish policy committee reviews 2025–26 student conduct procedures, debates stricter vaping discipline

The Tangipahoa Parish Policy Committee of the Whole reviewed the 2025–26 TPSS Student Code of Conduct procedural manual at its July 15 meeting, with board members debating stricter penalties for student vaping and administrators summarizing how discipline, appeals and transfers will be handled under the revised procedures.

The manual, presented by Ron Jenko, staff member, outlines the district’s step-by-step Discipline Review Committee (DRC) process, Chromebook handling for students awaiting alternative placement, and appeal routes to the superintendent or board. "What you have in front of you is the document that our administrators will use as they are presented with issues that come to them from classroom, bus discipline, etcetera," Jenko said. He described a back section intended as a quick-reference, with hyperlinks to procedural steps and to the DRC workflow.

Why it matters: the procedural manual defines day-to-day enforcement tools used by principals and school staff, while any change to the district’s formal vaping consequences will require referral to the board’s policy process. Those decisions affect student attendance, placement and parental appeal rights across Tangipahoa Parish schools.

Key points from the meeting

- Chromebook and DRC procedures: Jenko said when a student is recommended for a change of placement the DRC process is spelled out from the recommendation through appeal. Parents who…