A new policy at the Locust Valley School District is mandating students to use bathrooms and locker rooms that align with their biological sex and not gender identity. "I think it's very sad," says Oyster Bay resident Nancy Dennis-Brown, who had family in the school district in the past.

The decision came down at a board meeting this week. The board said the decision "reflects this boards time-honored tradition of providing a safe, respectful and supportive environment for all of our students."

The district said it will continue to provide safe spaces for students like gender neutral bathrooms.

People who had children or family members in Locust Valley Schools in the past tell News 12 they're disappointed. "I don't think anybody should be discriminated against," says Dennis-Brown. "Ridiculous. It's a bathroom," says Locust Valley resident Susan.

The Locust Valley School District adopted this policy just days after the New York State Education Department denied Massapequa's similar policy.

On Thursday, the state's education commissioner said the Massapequa schools cannot enforce the policy under state law.

The Massapequa School Board says the district will continue to offer a gender-neutral locker room and bathroom option.

A spokesperson for the State Education Department said Locust Valley's resolution is "materially indistinguishable from the Massapequa resolution stayed by order of the Commissioner."

"Neither district has explained why it took them eight months to discern a conflict between State and federal law on this issue. The Department will reach out to Locust Valley in short order," the spokesperson added.

But Locust Valley School officials say their policy is in compliance with the law.

"The federal government has recently engaged in enforcement actions against many school districts throughout the country for failure to comply with Title IX," a member of the board said at the meeting.