Candidates debate iPad use, digital testing requirements and classroom technology
Summary
Several applicants questioned heavy iPad use in classrooms and some urged limits; board members noted the state now requires digital standardized testing, creating tension between reducing device time and ensuring device proficiency for assessments.
Technology in classrooms emerged as a contested subject during candidate interviews.
A candidate said bluntly they would "get rid of iPads," arguing early‑age device overuse harms handwriting and creative thinking. Other candidates and directors noted the state now mandates that standardized tests (PSSAs) be taken digitally and that device proficiency is therefore a baseline requirement; one board member warned that reducing devices without addressing test requirements could risk lower test performance.
Candidates proposed research‑based changes: compare test scores before and after digital adoption, pilot adjustments, and coordinate with state requirements before making wholesale changes. Several candidates emphasized social‑media literacy and preparing students for AI while protecting younger students from overuse.
What was on the record: Multiple candidates expressed skepticism of heavy device reliance; board members repeatedly pushed for empirical evidence and careful planning around assessment requirements before policy changes.
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