COLUMBUS, Ohio — Stephen Hardwick is the father of two transgender students who attend Columbus City Schools. Last month, the district changed both of his kids’ names in their internal system, he said, back to the ones that were on their birth certificate.

He said his family wasn’t notified until after the change was made.

“Without notice, on either on too late Tuesday or Wednesday, they changed that and we didn't get any notice from the district until a letter arrived in the mail the following Saturday,” Hardwick said.

Columbus City Schools said it made the change to comply with a new state law that went into effect in February. But Hardwick is among the parents who believe the district left their children in an uncomfortable situation.

“It was more embarrassing because some of their students, some of their friends, didn't know about that, know about their legal name," Hardwick said. "Some of them learned of it from a substitute teacher calling out the legal name in class."

At last week’s school board meeting, Columbus City Schools Superintendent Angela Chapman apologized for how the district handled the transition. 

“I want to, again, take a moment to apologize to all of our students, our family, our community, our staff for the harm that was done due to the name and gender change in the student information management system,” Chapman said.

Despite the apology, the district says the changes within its system will remain intact, but that doesn’t impact how students can be referred to at school. Meanwhile, Hardwick said the delayed notification surprised and upset him. Especially because he said the district is usually overly communicative about any changes.

“I was angry because the district sends us dozens and dozens of texts and emails and voicemails every week,” Hardwick said.