(NewsNation) — The Shenandoah County school district voted to restore school names to ones that honor Confederate leaders in a 5-to-1 vote. Two board members joined NewsNation to discuss why they voted the way they did.

The vote, believed to be the first of its kind, reverses a decision made in 2020 when school districts across the South began to rename schools. The initial changes were a response to the Black Lives Matter movement, which also led to the removal of Confederate statues and changes to the names of other institutions and landmarks that honored Confederate leaders.

Board Member Gloria Carlineo voted to restore the names and said it was an issue of laws and rules.

Carlineo said the initial decision took advantage of COVID-19 restrictions and forced through a decision without allowing the community to weigh in.

For her, Carlineo said it was important to abide by rules and processes and that the names reflect the community’s heritage, even if a lot of people did not want the schools to carry the names of Confederate leaders.

The school system is located in a majority-white area, with a small Black population at the schools. The names were originally instituted in the 1950s as part of a backlash to integration.

“I know some people’s feelings are going to be hurt in this, but we have policies and rules that we have to follow; otherwise, we’re not a country of laws,” she said.

Kyle Gutshall, the lone board vote against the reversal, said he agreed that the board needed to follow appropriate rules to make a major change and that he had listened to his constituents when it came to casting his vote.

In the end, he said it was important for all students to feel welcome in their schools.

“We want it to be a great experience for all students, regardless of who they are or what they look like,” he said.