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District rolls out smart boards, 840 Chromebooks and TalkingPoints; plans cautious AI guidance
Summary
Technology director Tom Reeve reported new interactive displays at elementary schools, a large Chromebook deployment for grades 6 and 9, a districtwide rollout of TalkingPoints for family communication, and plans for teacher‑supervised AI guidance and staff cybersecurity training.
Tom Reeve, director of digital learning and IT, told the School Committee the district installed 15 new interactive flat‑panel displays in elementary classrooms and preschool, completed an AV upgrade in high‑school science classrooms, and distributed 840 Chromebooks to students in grades 6 and 9 as part of the annual replenishment cycle.
Reeve said the elementary panels are on height‑adjustable mounts after a seven‑month pilot with elementary teachers. “The decision to purchase these displays came after a successful 7 month pilot program and, with elementary teachers in the district,” Reeve said.
He said 220 staff Chromebooks will be deployed in coming weeks and that the district updated its acceptable‑use policy earlier in the year. Reeve described a cautious approach to artificial intelligence in schools and said the district intends to develop AI best practices and professional development that align with DESE guidance. “My general rule of thumb is the best use of AI is teacher supervised use of AI,” he said.
Reeve also reported a districtwide rollout of TalkingPoints, a multilingual communication app the district used to reach families in their preferred languages; he said parents receive messages by text even if they haven’t installed the app. The technology plan includes new annual cybersecurity and data‑safety training for staff, building on a prior state cybersecurity grant.
Committee members asked about how smart boards were deployed (pilot first at elementary level, full smart‑board implementation at the middle school in the new building) and about professional development for AI. Reeve said he is exploring DESE AI literacy modules and other PD and that the district is in early planning stages for staff training.
Members asked the administration to follow usage and costs over the coming year before wider purchases.
