Newport police say they’re investigating a report of an alleged assault at a school board meeting that featured a fiery debate during the public comment period, according to officials.

The meeting at Regional School Unit 19’s combined Nokomis middle and high school campus deteriorated Tuesday evening while people in the audience argued over the suspension of a student.

Newport-based RSU 19 is being investigated by the Trump administration over its policies for transgender athletes, including allowing a transgender student to participate on the school cheerleading team. But school officials say the team is open to all genders because it is co-ed.

People who addressed the board during the meeting Tuesday said the student was suspended for making comments about the Title IX investigation of a transgender student.

School officials, including Superintendent Mike Hammer, did not respond to requests for comment Wednesday morning.

A livestream of the meeting shows police intervening during an eighth-grade student’s attempt to address the school board. When the student referenced the recent suspension, calling it “punishment for harassing another student,” others in the audience started shouting in disagreement.

School board members abruptly ended the public comment period as people in the audience continued to yell and confront one another. Police separated several of them and ushered some out of the room.

Newport police said in brief statement Wednesday morning that they received a report of an assault that took place during the meeting. Chief David Wintle said the incident is being investigated but declined to provide further details.