Tamaqua School Board approved a first reading of policies which will add electronic cigarettes, also called e-cigarettes, to the list of tobacco products which are banned in school buildings and on school grounds, and in vehicles such as buses and vans which are under control of the school district.

The policies to be amended include those for administrative employees, professional employees and non-instructional employees.The ban will also be in effect for members of the public who are attending school events.School board solicitor Jeffrey Bowe said that the policies will go into effect at their second reading, which should take place during the board's meeting in October.In other action, the board approved the expulsion of a high school student who violated a school policy.After the meeting, district Superintendent Carol Makuta said that the student had committed a "level four" violation, which is the highest level, and that the offense involved the student being in possession of a prohibited substance. No other information was disclosed.