Tangipahoa Parish School Board Meeting - Sep 15 2026 Minutes
Tuesday, September 15, 2026 at 6:00 PM
Central Office Board Room , 59656 Puleston Rd Amite, LA 70422
1. OPENING ITEMS
a. Roll Call
b. National Anthem
The PHS Choir performed the National Anthem.
c. Pledge of Allegiance (All veterans and active military, please render the proper salute)
The Pledge led by Retired Sgt Will Davis.
d. Veterans Day Event
- Strader Cieutat & Retired Sgt Will Davis.
Strader Cieutat presented details on the 2nd Annual Ponchatoula Veterans Day Celebration scheduled for October 31, with the parade beginning at 9:30 a.m. Highlighted features for this year's event include a performance by the United States Marine Corps Band, military flyovers, two flag-raising ceremonies, and the Victory Bells from The National WWII Museum.
e. Consider adoption of the Tangipahoa Parish School Board Meeting minutes of September 1st, 2026
Items Approved by Board:
Approved the 2026-27 Annual Operating Budget
Approved the amendment to pages 19 and 34 of the 26/27 Salary Schedule.
Approved the 2026-27 Graduation Dates
Approved legal council recommendations for JDC No. 2023-0001299A & #2021-0002556
Motion to approve the Tangipahoa Parish School Board Meeting minutes of September 1st, 2026
Moved by: Joey Piazza; seconded by: Glenn Westmoreland
Yea: Robin Abrams, Rose Dominguez, Tom Tolar, Glenn Westmoreland, Janice Richards, Jerry Moore, Joey Piazza, and Trent Anthony
(The official adopted minutes have been placed in the Board Minute Archives and/or for viewing on the TPSS website: https://tangischools.community.highbond.com/Portal/MeetingTypeList.aspx)
Motion Carries 8-0
2. COMMITTEE REPORTS
a. Consider the adoption of the Personnel Committee Meeting report from September 1st, 2026
Items Approved by Committee:
Approved the revised Principal job description.
Approved the revised job description for Coordinator of Student Registration and School Choice Options.
Approved waiving rules and adding an agenda item to approve the job description for School District Registrar.
Approved the job description for School District Registrar.
Approved the job description for Coordinator of Student Registration.
Approved the job description for Federal Programs Facilitator.
Motion to adopt the Personnel Committee Report of September 1st.
Moved by: Joey Piazza; seconded by: Glenn Westmoreland
Yea: Robin Abrams, Rose Dominguez, Tom Tolar, Glenn Westmoreland, Janice Richards, Jerry Moore, Joey Piazza, and Trent Anthony
(The official adopted minutes have been placed in the Board Minute Archives and/or for viewing on the TPSS website: https://tangischools.community.highbond.com/Portal/MeetingTypeList.aspx)
Motion Carries 8-0
Motion to wave the rules to add the Policy Committee Reports from September 15th.
Moved by: Tom Tolar; seconded by: Glenn Westmoreland
Yea: Robin Abrams, Rose Dominguez, Tom Tolar, Glenn Westmoreland, Janice Richards, Jerry Moore, Joey Piazza, and Trent Anthony
(The official adopted minutes have been placed in the Board Minute Archives and/or for viewing on the TPSS website: https://tangischools.community.highbond.com/Portal/MeetingTypeList.aspx)
Motion Carries 8-0
Motion to approve the Policy Committee Report from September 15th, 2026
Items Approved by Board:
Approval of Policy revisions of DFI - Admissions and Gate Receipts.
Moved by: Tom Tolar; seconded by: Joey Piazza
Yea: Robin Abrams, Rose Dominguez, Tom Tolar, Glenn Westmoreland, Janice Richards, Jerry Moore, Joey Piazza, and Trent Anthony
(The official adopted minutes have been placed in the Board Minute Archives and/or for viewing on the TPSS website: https://tangischools.community.highbond.com/Portal/MeetingTypeList.aspx)
Motion Carries 8-0
3. ACADEMIC
a. Learning Community and DIBELS Updates
- Chasity Liuzza
Academic Update - September
Chasity Liuzza presented the Academic Update, detailing a comparison between this year's Beginning of Year (BOY) DIBELS assessment results and prior-year data. Additionally, Ms. Liuzza provided updated information regarding the Learning Community Structure.
4. FINANACE
a. Sales Tax Updates
- Jeff McKneely
Sales Tax Summary EFID 20260831.pdf
Sales Tax Summary TPSS 20260831.pdf
Jeff McKneely presented the sales tax updates.
5. BOARD ACTIONS
a. Consider approval of RFP Proposal - Staff and Compensation Study
RFP_0001.pdf
- Jeff McKneely
Daine Carlson provided a comparative breakdown of companies evaluated for the Staff and Compensation Study, concluding with an administrative recommendation to select LeanFrog.
Motion made by Tom Tolar, seconded by Robin Abrams, to accept the proposal from "LLH Consulting".
Moved by: Tom Tolar; seconded by: Robin Abrams
Yea: Robin Abrams, Rose Dominguez, Tom Tolar, Glenn Westmoreland, Janice Richards, Jerry Moore, Joey Piazza, and Trent Anthony
Motion Carries 8-0
6. SUPERINTENDENT REPORTS AND RECOMMENDATION
a. Consider authorizing the Superintendent to execute the Certificate of Substantial Completion for PHS Softball Concession Stand. PHS PRESSBOX-CERT OF SUBSTANTIAL COMPLETION.pdf
Motion to approve the administration's recommendation
Moved by: Rose Dominguez; seconded by: Joey Piazza
Yea: Robin Abrams, Rose Dominguez, Tom Tolar, Glenn Westmoreland, Janice Richards, Jerry Moore, Joey Piazza, and Trent Anthony
Motion Carries 8-0
b. Consider referring Policy DJA - Authorized Signatures to the Policy Committee.
Motion to approve
Moved by: Joey Piazza; seconded by: Glenn Westmoreland
Yea: Robin Abrams, Rose Dominguez, Tom Tolar, Glenn Westmoreland, Janice Richards, Jerry Moore, Joey Piazza, and Trent Anthony
Motion Carries 8-0
7. BOARD ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Trent Anthony: Expressed gratitude to his family for attending, commended district staff for a successful start to the school year, and praised the performance of the "A Team."
Janice Richards: Extended condolences to the Callahan, Tanner, Perry, Smith, Kelly, Collins, Nicholls, Broomfield, and Baker families. Commended the community unity and positive sportsmanship displayed during the recent North End football game.
Tom Tolar: Echoed Ms. Richards' sentiments regarding community support and positive relations at the North End game. Raised concerns regarding construction activity in on board-leased property in Roseland. Requested administrative and legal follow-up to verify property surveys, ensure a minimum 10-foot setback, resolve parking logistics, and finalize a Cooperative Endeavor Agreement (CEA) before concrete pouring proceeds.
Robin Abrams: Thanked Chasity Liuzza for the DIBELS presentation, sharing positive personal feedback on early literacy outcomes. Announced her upcoming absence from weekend athletic events due to attendance at the Miss Louisiana event.
Joey Piazza: Expressed appreciation to the choir for their opening performance. Recognized instructional progress within specialized programs and extended best wishes to all parish athletic teams.
Rose Dominguez: Recognized Ponchatoula High Choir Director Emily Riardo as a district alumna who returned to teach in Tangipahoa Parish. Commended Representative Kim Coats for assisting Coach Jeremy Harper with funding efforts for the Ponchatoula High softball press box. Highlighted the Ponchatoula High Open House, track team jambalaya fundraiser, the Tangipahoa Parish Fair (Sept. 30 – Oct. 4), and school participation in Dolly Parton Imagination Library recognition days.
Glenn Westmoreland: Congratulated Board Legal Counsel Al Giraud securing a favorable zero-dollar defense jury verdict on behalf of the School Board.
Jerry Moore: Tonight, I want to focus specifically on the Alternative School. I am deeply concerned about overcrowding, reduced resources, and whether we are providing these students with the support we say they need. The community warned us that overcrowding could become a problem. Those concerns came from parents, Black and white constituents, community members, and members of our juvenile justice system. Now the student population is growing, and we need to know whether staffing and services are growing with it. These students often need more support, not less—counseling, mentoring, academic intervention, behavioral support, and structure. During recent discipline appeals, we have heard that students should attend the Alternative School in person because they need counseling, mentoring, and intervention. If that is the reason we require in-person attendance, then those services must actually be available. We cannot require students to attend in person based on services we are not adequately staffed to provide. So I am asking for clear answers: How many students are currently assigned to the Alternative School? What is the building’s capacity? How many counselors and mentors are actually available? How often are students receiving those services? What academic and behavioral interventions are being provided? And what are the outcomes for students after they complete the program? This is not about being soft on discipline. Students must be held accountable, and teachers and other students deserve safe classrooms.
But the Alternative School should not simply be a place where we relocate students. It should be one of the strongest intervention programs in this district. If we are going to require these children to be there, then we owe it to them, their families, and this community to make sure that being there actually gives them a real opportunity to improve and succeed.
Show us the staffing. Show us the counseling. Show us the mentoring. Show us the interventions. And show us the results.
8. LITIGATION
Motion to move into executive session
Moved by: Joey Piazza; seconded by: Rose Dominguez
Yea: Robin Abrams, Rose Dominguez, Tom Tolar, Glenn Westmoreland, Janice Richards, Jerry Moore, Joey Piazza, and Trent Anthony
Motion Carries 8-0
a. Consider the case of Monique Dunn, et al v. TPSS, No. 2021-0002421 - Al Giraud
Motion to accept council recommendation
Moved by: Glenn Westmoreland; seconded by: Tom Tolar
Yea: Robin Abrams, Rose Dominguez, Tom Tolar, Glenn Westmoreland, Janice Richards, Jerry Moore, Joey Piazza, and Trent Anthony
Motion Carries 8-0
b. Consider the case of Stephanie Paige v. TPSB, No. 2023-0000790 - Al Giraud
Motion to accept council recommendation
Moved by: Glenn Westmoreland; seconded by: Tom Tolar
9. PUBLIC INPUT
No public Input submitted.
10. Adjournment
Meeting was adjourned at 7:10PM
________________________________________
POLICY COMMITTEE - Sep 15 2026 Minutes
Tuesday, September 15, 2026 at 5:30 PM
Central Office Board Room
1. Meeting Opening
A. Call to Order
B. Roll Call
- Mr. Glenn Westmoreland led in the Pledge of Allegiance.
2. REVISIONS
A. Consider the revisions to policy DFI - Admissions and Gate Receipts.
Option 1: DFI Admissions and Gate Receipts
Option 2: Policy DFI - Joey Edits.pdf
Motion to adopt option 2 with the additional edits added "The Tangipahoa Parish school system may continue to maintain and promote the use of cashless or electronic payment systems for admissions to school events. However, cash shall also be accepted in the form of payment at point of admission for all school sponsored events at which admission fee is as at which an admission fee is charged.
Moved by: Tom Tolar; seconded by: Rose Dominguez
FOLLOWING ARE THE POLICIES AS APPROVED:
CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing policy; words underscored are additions.
Motion Carries
B. Consider the revisions of Policy DIA - Admissions and Gate Receipts
DIA Accounting System
Motion to adopt administration recommendation.
Moved by: Trent Anthony; seconded by: Glenn Westmoreland
Motion made by Mr. Tolar, seconded by Mrs. Abrams to table
Moved by: Tom Tolar; seconded by: Robin Abrams
Motion Carries
C. Consider the revisions to Policy DL - Cash in School Buildings
DL Cash in School Buildings
- Administration requested to pull this item and table.
3. Adjournment
Meeting was adjourned at 6:03pm.
________________________________________
ATTACHMENTS:
Policy: DFI
Section: Section D: Fiscal Management
Admissions and Gate Receipts
The Tangipahoa Parish School Board shall establish and maintain a uniform procedure for the handling and accounting of admission fees charged for all school events, such as athletics or entertainment, whether such is assessed in advance or upon entering. All such fees shall be controlled through the use of pre-numbered tickets. For events held at an individual school, the price of admission, if any, may be established by the principal, after consultation with the Superintendent and/or his/her designee. A reduced price ticket shall be available to all employees and TPSS students with presentation of TPSS issued ID for all regular season events.
The Tangipahoa Parish School System may continue to maintain and promote the use of cashless or electronic payment systems for admission to school events. However, cash shall also be accepted as a form of payment at the point of admission for all school-sponsored events at which an admission fee is charged.
Uniform procedures shall be used for selling and collecting tickets to athletic and all other school functions when admission is charged, to ensure the proper accounting of all ticket transactions. Money, including cash received from school-sponsored activities such as football, basketball, track, baseball, shows, plays, concerts, etc., shall be verified by the use of a numbered ticket system. It is required that the first and last ticket of each roll used for that activity be attached to the Gate Receipt form to confirm sales. Any information which would help verify or account for income shall be filed with the deposit ticket.
Legal References: LA.R.S. 17:81 General Powers of Local Public School Boards
Adoption Date: September 15, 2026
Last Revised: August 01, 2023, August 18, 2020,
Policy Origin: Board Member, Tom Tolar
Cost of notice: $140.00