Tangipahoa School Board tables most Phase 3 capital projects, approves Sumner and Independence gyms to proceed

The Tangipahoa Parish School Board voted Nov. 4 to table most Phase 3 capital outlay projects for two weeks while allowing two gym projects — at Sumner and Independence High Schools — to move forward to the RFQ and preliminary design stage.

Miss Abrams, board member, moved to table “all Phase 3” items for two weeks while pulling out items B and E (the Sumner and Independence gym projects) for approval; Mister Anthony seconded. After substitute motions and extended debate, the final roll call showed six votes in favor and three opposed. The board adopted the motion 6–3: Miss Abrams (yes), Mister Anthony (yes), Miss Dominguez (no), Mister Duncan (no), Mister Moore (yes), Mister Piazza (no), Miss Richards (yes), Mister Toller (yes) and Mister Westmoreland (yes).

The decision follows public comment urging the board not to delay projects. John Polito, an Independence resident, told the board: "You need to vote and move forward with these projects." Board discussion centered on process, fiscal prudence and project scope. Mister Duncan, board member, explained the procedure distinction: "When we approve committee reports at a full board meeting, it is designed to give the general public we have that's different than approving minutes." He and others emphasized that approving a committee report gives the public a second opportunity to comment before final action.

District staff described the next technical steps if a project proceeds. On costs, staff said the immediate step would be to advertise RFQs for architects and that the only near-term cost would be advertising. As Mister McNeely said during the meeting, "So it's not gonna cost us anything but advertising." Staff also told the board that no architect would be hired without a subsequent, project-specific vote by the board.

Members debated whether the gym projects included classroom additions. Board discussion clarified that the motion to move the gym projects forward did not include classroom additions for Independence High School unless the board amended the motion to explicitly include those agenda items.

Board members and the public framed part of the debate around the district's desegregation commitments. District presenters reminded the board that projects intended to remove portable buildings are tied to the district’s commitments to close a desegregation case, while the gym projects are not part of that legal remedy. Several members urged caution and a short delay to allow a retreat—scheduled within days—to provide additional data and a strategic review of all Phase 3 work. Others pushed to preserve momentum on projects they characterized as urgent for student needs.

The meeting produced several formal votes related to routine business and the capital report. Earlier in the evening the board unanimously approved the Oct. 21 meeting minutes. The board also approved substantial completion items 4a–4e on a unanimous roll call later in the meeting.

The board scheduled the two-week pause so members could review data and discuss priorities at an open retreat; during that pause staff may prepare RFQ materials but, per staff testimony, RFQs were not expected to be advertised before the retreat and the earliest return of RFQ responses was projected for January or February.

The meeting also included a public recognition of Montessori teachers who completed accredited training, a brief superintendent report (no updates), and routine board comments before adjournment.