Board approves Press policy updates; administration to refine AI language in administrative procedure

The Board of Education approved Press policy update packets 1.18 and 1.19 at the Sept. 22 meeting, adopting the recommended policy language. Trustees discussed language relating to electronic network access and the use of artificial intelligence and asked administration to adapt the district's internal procedural guidance for AI use.

Superintendent Dan Bridges and Board President Charles Kush led the policy discussion. Trustee Holly Blastick and others said the district already has internal guidance on AI use that better balances academic integrity, training, privacy and safety than the Press model language. Bridges recommended accepting the press updates while asking administration to prepare a draft administrative procedure incorporating local practice; trustees supported that approach and approved the policy updates by roll call.

Trustees specifically directed administration to bring back a revised administrative procedure for policy 6235 (or the relevant procedural attachment) that clarifies acceptable classroom and staff uses of AI, training expectations, and academic integrity safeguards. Trustee Blastick emphasized the need to include critical‑thinking and privacy protections in the procedure.

Motion and vote: A motion to approve the policy updates with the exception that administration would return with refined language for the AI procedure passed on a roll‑call vote (recorded as aye votes across trustees present). The board did not change district policy immediately; the action accepted Press‑recommended policy language and requested a tailored administrative procedure follow‑up.

Why this matters: As schools adopt digital tools, trustees signaled that policy alone is insufficient and asked that administrative procedures spell out operational rules and staff training for AI use.