The board approved the policy change on first reading Monday and will give the issue final consideration in September. The Columbia Daily Tribune reports (http://bit.ly/1JJA8Q1) several people spoke in favor of the policy change and no one spoke against it.

David Tager, founder of the Transgender Health Network, says the changes would protect staff and students in the district. He says people can be fired for being transgender and the new policy would protect those employees.

Superintendent Peter Stiepleman said potential costs of the change still have to be determined. He says Monday’s vote was simply to show the district doesn’t discriminate.

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Information from: Columbia Daily Tribune, http://www.columbiatribune.com.