Board members and administrators discussed the division’s one-to-one Chromebook program, concerns about overuse, AI‑assisted cheating and student mental-health effects, and recently implemented technical controls.

Miss Purvis and several board members said parents had complained about heavy Chromebook use and suggested limiting device time in elementary grades. Administrators responded that elementary teachers generally use Chromebooks as a short tool — often in short rotations, with most instruction remaining hands‑on — and that the state requires teaching some computer skills and online tools from early grades. Staff also noted the division used online remediation programs last year that required students to use Chromebooks for scheduled practice.

IT staff described a recent technology upgrade: the division replaced its previous web filter with a more advanced system integrated with classroom‑management tools. Mr. Sexton (IT) said teachers will be able to allow specific sites or videos “for just that class period, and then it’s blocked by default.” The division also deployed an image‑analysis (“content aware”) module that uses AI to blur inappropriate images missed by category filters. IT staff said the district upgraded its Google licensing to “Education Plus” for enhanced security and configured new classroom devices and displays at the high schools.

Board members pressed for measurable data on Chromebook usage. IT and instructional staff said the new classroom‑management and filtering integration will produce much better reporting (by site, by time, by class) and that the division expects to have meaningful data by October–November after teacher training and initial use. They cautioned that precise “screen time” is hard to measure because reports track browser and site activity rather than eye attention; the team recommended using multiple indicators (site access, teacher application of class‑level rules, periods of inactivity) to estimate usage.

On policy, several board members and administrators endorsed immediate steps: do not use Chromebooks as a routine indoor‑recess substitute, discourage using devices as rewards, emphasize more hands‑on and paper‑pencil instruction where appropriate, and consider a division memo to principals and teachers. Administration agreed to issue a memo requesting that principals discourage device use for indoor recess and to bring any formal policy changes to the IGA committee and then back to the board. A board member also asked staff to prepare cost and return‑on‑investment information about any proposed changes to device provisioning.

There was no vote on device policy at this meeting; the board directed staff to prepare a memo and return policy proposals to IGA for consideration.