Tangipahoa Parish School Board approves consent items, adopts pupil progression plan and amends vaping policy

The Tangipahoa Parish School Board on Sept. 2 approved several consent items, adopted its 2025 pupil progression plan unchanged, referred a child nutrition policy to committee review and approved an amended vaping policy that shortened suspension lengths and removed a parent testing fee.

The actions were taken during a regularly scheduled board meeting that also included presentations and recognitions. Several agenda items were handled by unanimous voice vote or by roll call; at least one member was recorded voting against a consent item.

Board members first approved the minutes from the Aug. 19, 2025 meeting. The board then adopted a Development Review Committee (DRC) appeal from Aug. 27. The motion to adopt passed; the meeting transcript records a “no” vote by Jerry Moore on that item. The board accepted committee minutes from the capital outlay committee and the policy committee (items A–H) and approved the district’s 2025 pupil progression plan, which administrators said included no changes from state policy.

On a separate agenda item, the board approved revisions to the district’s vaping policy. The adopted amendments changed the disciplinary scheme described in the draft policy: the first offense was changed from a three‑day out‑of‑school suspension to a three‑day in‑school suspension; the second offense was changed from a 10‑day out‑of‑school suspension to a five‑day out‑of‑school suspension. The board also voted to remove a provision that would have made parents financially responsible for device testing fees; administrators said the testing devices cost about $4 each and that the district could cover that expense. The board directed administration to identify or provide mandated education programs for students (administration said in‑house or free online options would be used).

The board voted to refer the proposed Policy EE (Child Nutrition Program Management) to the policy committee and outside reviewer Forethought for further consideration. That referral passed unanimously.

Near the meeting’s end the board moved into an executive session to consider the case captioned in the transcript as Joyce M. Moore v. Tampa Bay Scribe Board; after the executive session the board reconvened and announced there was no action to take publicly.

Votes at a glance - Approve board minutes (Aug. 19, 2025): Motion carried (mover: Mister Westmoreland; second: Mister Piazza). - Adopt DRC appeal (Aug. 27): Motion carried (mover: Mister Piazza; second: Mister Westmoreland). Jerry Moore recorded a "no" vote. - Adopt 2025 Pupil Progression Plan (no changes reported): Motion carried (mover: Mister Piazza; second: Miss Dominguez). - Accept Capital Outlay Committee minutes (Aug. 19): Motion carried (mover: Mister Piazza; second: Mister Westmoreland). - Accept Policy Committee items A–H (Aug. 27): Motion carried (second recorded; transcript records unanimous vote). - Approve vaping policy as amended (item I): Motion carried; amendments include first offense → three days in‑school suspension (instead of out‑of‑school), second offense → five days out‑of‑school (instead of 10), and removal of parental payment for testing devices. - Refer Policy EE (Child Nutrition Program Management) to Forethought/policy committee: Motion carried (mover recorded as Mister Westmoreland; second: Mister Anthony). - Enter executive session on Joyce M. Moore v. Tampa Bay Scribe Board: Motion carried; no action taken after reconvening.

The board made no additional public votes after the executive session and adjourned.