IR District against Regulation 225

The Indian River Board of Education drew a standing ovation Monday night for their decision not to back Regulation 225, an anti-discriminatory policy that has drawn debate across Delaware.

Among other things the policy would allow students to self-identify their gender and race without parental consent. It would also allow trans-gender students to use bathrooms and locker rooms that correlate with their chosen gender.

Superintendent Mark Steele announced the decision that the school board and district would send a letter Tuesday to the general assembly voicing their position. Steele saying that student safety and the potential for litigation against the school district were among their top reasons to stand against it.

"This (policy) could lead to significant school safety violations should a student who is not transgender use this premise to gain access private areas within the school," Steele said.

A majority of those who attended the public school board meeting stood against the regulation. Many in attendance brought shirts or signs with the words "NO 225" written on them.

A small portion did come that were in favor of the regulation, including a few students from Indian River High School.

"I feel everyone is entitled to their own opinion and if they want to come to school and have a safe environment at school away from their home with someone who might not accept them at home I feel that is completely acceptable," said senior Samantha Whelen.

"It’s an LGBTQ plus community and their really just disregarding the 'T' like there's a 'T' in it for transgender kids and you can just stop at LGB because that’s all you can handle," said senior Delaney Brannon.

Both Brannon and Whelen said they were displeased with the district's decision.

Ultimately the decision will have to come from Dover, but until that happens more debate is expected on both sides of the issue.