LA MESA, Calif. -- Three days after President Obama aired a back-to-school speech to children across the country, controversy continues in one San Diego-area school district.

The school board in the La Mesa-Spring Valley School District held an emergency meeting Monday and voted to not show the president's speech live.

Instead, board members voted to have it taped and then shown to students later in the week. 10News learned that the decision outraged parents across the 12,000-plus student body.

"The kids have a right to see it and hear what's happening in the words of the president," said parent Teryl McPherson. "It kind of robbed our children of seeing something that could've benefited them."

McPherson's daughter is a seventh-grader at Parkway Middle School in La Mesa, and she is also upset that she didn't get to hear what's been called the president's "back-to-school pep talk."

"It's our president, and we should be able to see what he thinks and what he expects us to be like," said Alexiss McPherson.

Board President Penny Halgren, and trustees Rick Winet and Bob Duff supported the motion. Emma Turner and Bill Baber voted against it.

On Friday, Duff told 10News he regrets every bit of his decision.

"I said to my wife, 'I blew it.' There was nothing wrong with what he said," Duff said from his home Friday. "I can't say I'm sorry enough to the public. It was just like I'm at fault."

Duff, a retired teacher, said he worried about parents who threatened to keep their kids home Tuesday if the president's speech was played. His main concern was the lack of state funding for every absent student.

Duff said he feels entirely responsible, and added, "There's nothing I can do to make the parents feel better ... absolutely nothing ... it happened ... they missed a big event in the kids' life. What are you going to say?"

The entire board is expected to apologize at a public meeting Tuesday night.

Anticipating a packed crowd, the board will hold its regularly scheduled meeting in the auditorium of Parkway Middle School in La Mesa at 7 p.m.