DEERFIELD, Ill. () A school board meeting in a northern suburb of Chicago drew mixed reactions from parents Thursday as they weighed in on allegations that some middle school students were forced to change clothes in the presence of a transgender student.

Some parents of students at Deerfield Public School District 109 said that young girls were being robbed of their privacy, while others said transgender students deserved to feel safe.

The district, however, disputes the claim and insists the incident under question did not happen.

In March, the Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights announced that it was investigating after a mother filed a civil rights complaint after female students at Alan B Shepard Middle School reportedly complained to school administrators about a male who was using their locker room to change for gym class.

The next day, school administrators reportedly scolded the female students for refusing to dress in front of the student.

While the district denies the event took place, CBS Chicago reports that one of the girl’s mothers insists her daughter is a “victim” and “doesn’t lie.”

Some who spoke during the meeting voiced support for the transgender student, with one speaker calling the controversy surrounding the allegations a “publicity stunt.”

“What we cannot do is settle for lies or false accusations. We can not cower to any bullies in our community or at large. Our students are safest because District 190 follows constitutional and state laws and provides facilities to protect our most marginalized students as equally as any other students. I am both heartbroken and furious to know that any child from our community could become the subject of a publicity stunt, a target for bullies of any age,” another speaker said during public comment.

In a statement addressing the allegations, a district spokesperson said that students do not have to change in front of others and can choose to change privately.

affiliate WGN-TV in Chicago contributed to this report.