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School committee adopts updated student acceptable‑use technology policy; district will develop AI guidelines
Summary
The Winchester School Committee unanimously approved revised student acceptable‑use policy IJNDB and directed staff to develop accompanying AI guidelines rather than codify AI in policy, following Massachusetts Association of School Committees (MASC) guidance.
The Winchester School Committee unanimously adopted a revised student acceptable‑use of technology policy (IJNDB) on Thursday, approving the document as presented with a clerical typo corrected. The committee also heard that the district will produce guidance on artificial intelligence (AI) use rather than formal policy at this time.
Administrators told the committee the prior policy dated to 2015 and relied on older language and references; the new draft updates definitions, references to platforms such as Google Workspace and modernizes expectations for students and staff. The committee discussed overlap between student and staff policies and the plan to follow with a staff acceptable‑use update to align expectations across roles.
On AI, the district said the Massachusetts Association of School Committees and legal advisers recommended districts use flexible, regularly updated guidance rather than fixed policy because AI tools and norms are developing rapidly. The district has formed a diverse committee to draft AI guidelines and has consulted an external academic expert for assistance.
Committee members requested clear communications to families about the policy and about how the district will update guidance on AI and technology use. Staff said they will send family notifications explaining policy changes and will make sample family letters available for pilot classrooms as appropriate.
