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Iredell-Statesville board reviews state-recommended AI and internet-safety policy updates
Summary
The school board heard first readings of multiple technology-related policies, including Policy 32-20 on generative AI, an updated responsible-use policy and an electronically stored information retention update. Staff said policies will sit for 30 days before a November vote and that district-specific guidance and training will follow.
The Iredell-Statesville Schools Board of Education on Monday received first readings of several technology-related policies, including Policy 32-20 (Technology in the educational program), a responsible-use policy, and an update to electronically stored information retention. Administrators said the policies largely adopt state recommendations on generative AI, student internet safeguards and staff training and will return as voting items after a 30-day review period.
The meeting included a sustained discussion of Policy 32-20, which adds a new section addressing the use of generative AI and references training for both staff and students. "It added a new section to address the use of generative AI, which they recommended, and it also speaks to training for AI or generative AI for both staff and students," Miss Parker said during the presentation. Staff said they will produce district-level guidelines that expand on the state text.
Why it matters: The updates signal the district’s intent to formalize rules and training as generative AI tools become more common in classrooms and lesson planning. Board members pressed staff on how students’ device use will be restricted and what safeguards will be in place before student access is allowed.
Most important facts: Staff told the board that teachers have already received some generative-AI training and that student access is currently blocked on district devices except for a limited set of teacher-approved sites. "We have been training on generative AI with our teachers. We have everything blocked for students, but we do have a couple sites open for teachers," Miss Parker said. She named a paid platform called "Magic School AI" as an example of a controlled environment the district is evaluating and said ChatGPT access is available for some teachers.
Board members raised concerns about guardrails and about distinguishing student work created by AI. "How will you know that students are generating their own work, not AI generated?" a board member asked. Staff said detection tools exist but are imperfect and that teacher training and assessment design will be central to verifying student learning.
Other policy notes: Staff said Policy 3225 (Internet safety/Children's Internet Protection Act compliance) was presented with no substantive changes and that the state-required update to electronically stored information retention contained only legal-reference updates. Those items also will "sit for a month" and become voting items in November, staff said.
What comes next: Staff said district-specific guidance will be drafted to flesh out the state language about AI use, with teacher training prioritized before student access. The board will revisit the policies after the 30-day public-review period.
Ending: No final votes were taken Monday; administrators said the policies will return as voting items next month and that more-detailed local guidance — including training schedules and tool-by-tool guardrails — will be developed before wider student access to AI tools is allowed.
