The Pella School Board narrowly decided to move ahead with new Title IX policies based on recent federal changes to the rule governing discrimination and harassment procedures in school districts.

A motion was approved 3-2 to conditionally adopt the new standards, as recommended by the Iowa Association of School Boards and the school district’s legal counsel. The reason for the reluctance was language included in the text about gender identity as a protected class from bullying, discrimination, and harassment.

Superintendent Greg Ebeling says that was a direct result of the new rule approved by the U.S. Department of Education, which is facing various legal challenges. Ebeling says if an injunction is placed on the new regulations, the district will revert to prior policies, based on the language of the motion approved at this week’s meeting.

Ebeling also mentioned that despite concerns from some board members that this would open the door for transgender athletes participating in girls sports in particular, he says the district is governed by the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union and Iowa High School Athletic Association when it comes to those activities, which prohibit such a move.

Read more about the changes here and listen to today’s Let’s Talk Pella for more from this week’s summer school board meeting.