The school board on Tuesday approved an amendment to the district’s health plan to include same-sex couples who are married in any state that legally recognizes their marriages.

The Springfield News-Leader reports (http://sgfnow.co/1EZxpN5) it is unclear how many additional people would be covered by the change. The district’s self-insured health plan covers about 6,000 people.

The change comes as Missouri’s constitutional ban on same-sex marriage is being challenged in court. District officials say several large employers in the city and state are expanding benefits to same-sex couples, partly to attract top employees.

The change is also expected to impact on other employment policies, such as sick days and family medical leave.

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Information from: Springfield News-Leader, http://www.news-leader.com