GUILFORD COUNTY, N.C. -- The Guilford County School Board voted 5-4, in favor of the proposed suspension policy.

According to the new policy, the school support officer and superintendent or someone designated will have the final say in the suspension.

Several people spoke Tuesday night and many had different opinions of the policy change.

One speaker in favor of the policy change was Mike Holmes.

Holmes said “If we do not instill this policy to allow them to voice, to have a voice, to advocate for themselves on their behalf and allow their parents to advocate for themselves what are we doing but infecting them with cynicism of the anger and frustration that's in this room tonight.”

Another speaker, Mark Robinson, was not as supportive of the new policy.

“It has nothing to do with black or white. It has something to do with right or wrong and we need to get back to those principles and stop talking about black and white," said Robinson.

Despite the controversy, the school board has voted to pass this proposal and proceed with the new policy.