Board approves release of two 2027–28 calendar options for public poll; rejects administration/council recommendation after executive session

The Tangipahoa Parish School Board on Jan. 27 handled several routine items and a post‑executive‑session formal action after meeting in closed session for litigation.

Minutes and committee items: The board approved the DRC appeal meeting minutes from Jan. 13, 2026 (motion by Mister Westmoreland; second by Mister Piazza). During discussion one board member said they disagreed with a decision recorded in the minutes — arguing an appeal should have been granted instead of remanding a student to the alternative school for two semesters — but board counsel/clarifier reminded members that the vote at this meeting concerned whether the minutes accurately reflected the prior meeting, not a re‑hearing of the DRC decision. Roll call recorded Miss Abrams Yes; Mister Anthony Yes; Miss Dominguez Yes; Mister Duncan Yes; Mister Moore Abstain; Mister Piazza Yes; Miss Richards Yes; Mister Toler Yes. The motion to approve the minutes passed.

The board also approved policy committee recommendations (motion recorded as by Mister Piazza, second by Mister Westmoreland) and adopted the board minutes of Jan. 6, 2026 (motion by Mister Westmoreland; second by Mister Toler). All such approvals were passed by roll call.

2027–28 calendar options: The board voted to release two proposed 2027–28 school calendar options for a public poll (motion by Mister Westmoreland; second by Miss Richards). The options presented included a “modified traditional” calendar that retains a shortened summer (about 10 weeks versus 11), adds a fall break and provides four full‑day intervention days after the first nine weeks to support students who are below grade level. A board speaker summarized: the modified option is intended to preserve intervention time and a fall break based on prior feedback, but the balanced calendar many requested is not one of the options being released. No members of the public spoke on the calendars before the vote; roll call votes recorded the motion as passing.

Executive session and post‑session action: The board entered executive session to discuss litigation (motion by Mister Westmoreland; second by Mister Piazza). After returning to open session, Mister Piazza moved, and Mister Westmoreland seconded, a motion “to reject administration [or] council’s recommendation” discussed in executive session. The roll‑call vote was recorded as unanimous 'Yes' from those voting, and the motion passed. The transcript does not specify the subject matter of the administration/council recommendation discussed in executive session; the vote text appears as a formal rejection of that recommendation.

Why it matters: Approval to release calendar options starts a public polling process that will inform the district’s final 2027–28 calendar; the confidential litigation discussion resulted in a formal board decision to reject an administration/council recommendation, an outcome the board recorded without specifying details in the public transcript.

The board adjourned following public input and routine announcements.