The Hamilton Southeastern Schools board rejected more-specific language for a revised nondiscrimination policy Wednesday in a 4-3 vote, moving instead toward more general terms.

But the vote did not come before board Vice President Sylvia Shepler made comments about sexual orientation that caused some people in the crowd to walk out of the meeting. Students had shown up to support a stronger policy.

HSE's board was considering adding specific identifiers to its nondiscrimination policy, including that the district would not discriminate in educational or employment activities based on race, sex, disability, age or religion.

The proposed language, written by board member Julie Chambers, also specified that "sex" include transgender status, sexual orientation and gender identity.

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After initially saying that changing school culture was more important than adding specific language to a policy, Shepler asked, "Why are we so afraid of voicing truth?"

She said "rapid onset dysphoria," apparently referencing the decision to become gay or transgender, is often "seen in clusters" and influenced by students' peers, social media and media in general.

"Why wasn’t this condition acceptable in the past and is now?" she asked, which elicited groans and gasps from the audience. Some people stood and walked out as she spoke.

She said she has seen studies that showed parents had said their child had been diagnosed with a mental health disorder or "other underlying issues" before claiming "dysphoria."

Shepler could not be reached Thursday for further comment.

Board member Michelle Fullhart responded to Shepler during the meeting, saying when she taught young children she could often tell that they were gay or transgender before the children knew themselves.

"They didn’t wake up one day and make the choice to be gay," she said.

HSE sent a statement Thursday morning in response to the board discussion and Shepler's comments, saying the district's primary responsibility is "to educate each of our children."

"It is our duty to protect them from harassment and to provide them with an environment in which they will succeed," it said. "To be clear, we do not tolerate acts of harassment, and we strictly adhere to all pertaining non-discrimination and anti-harassment laws as prescribed in our procedures."

The board voted against Chamber's policy language 4-3, with Shepler, Amanda Shera, Brad Boyer and board President Mike Bottorff voting against it.

Boyer said he was less concerned with the language of the policy than what was happening in the schools. During the meeting, some students told the board they felt they were being harassed.

"I think that this is a much bigger problem that I haven’t heard anybody talk about yet," he said before Shepler's comments. "Adding more words doesn’t change the culture, and I think we need to try to figure out how to change the culture."

Chambers responded by saying the board could do both.

"I don’t know how you can listen to these students and not feel for them," she said. "This is a public school district, and we should be protecting every student as they come to us."

HSE's anti-discrimination and anti-harassment policy is 19 years old and includes outdated statute numbers, which prompted administrators to recommend an update.

Last revised in 2000, it says: "The school corporation will not discriminate in its educational or employment activities on any basis prohibited by applicable federal or state laws."

What advanced Wednesday to a second reading also on a 4-3 vote was only slightly different: "The school corporation will not discriminate in its educational and employment activities on any basis prohibited by applicable federal or state laws."

HSE's policy committee had recommended a more extensive description:

“The school corporation will not discriminate in its educational and employment activities on any basis prohibited by applicable federal or state laws, including but not limited to a real or perceived characteristic, trait, belief, practice, association or other attribute described in those laws.”

By the time the vote ended, the room was mostly empty. The next school board meeting is at 7 p.m. May 8.

Indiana School Boards Association attorney Julie Slavens said that she generally recommends boards create a nondiscrimination policy listing specific categories even though technically students and employees are covered by federal law.

If schools are going to discipline a student for a violation of a policy, laws require that students have notice of what is subject to discipline beforehand, she said. Otherwise, she said a student could legally claim the district was too vague.

"So if you just say, 'federal or state laws' that really isn’t specific enough," Slavens said. "Most students don't know what those are, plus they could change."

HSE also has a non-discrimination and non-harassment statement, which is different then a board policy, posted prominently on its website. It says: “It is the policy of the Hamilton Southeastern Schools not to discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, or disability in its educational programs or employment policies.”

“As we interpret what the board has told us we used a very wide interpretation, and that’s where we may be struggling to do a better job" at finding the right policy language, Superintendent Allen Bourff said. “That’s why the nondiscrimination and nonharassment statement is on the website.”

Bourff told board members that in the past year the district had “ratcheted up” its efforts in preventing discrimination.

Contact IndyStar reporter Emma Kate Fittes at 317-513-7854 or efittes@gannett.com. Follow her on Facebook and Twitter: @IndyEmmaKate