School Board approves multiple policy updates including AI guidance and search-and-seizure procedure

The Bedford School Board on Aug. 25 approved multiple policy changes and second reads, including Policy DFA (investments), a newly updated use-of-artificial-intelligence policy (EHAG), and updated search-and-seizure procedures (JIH and JIHR).

Board members voted to accept Policy DFA with one minor wording change that had drawn comment. Board member Bill Foote moved the investment policy; a second was recorded and the board voted in favor.

Assistant Superintendent Tom explained changes to the AI policy, noting the district added cross-references and a prohibition of ‘‘deep fakes’’ in the text and cross-references (items g and i and policy code JICN). The board voted to approve EHAG on second read.

The board also approved policy JIH and procedure JIHR governing student searches and responsibilities after searches. During discussion board members asked how search reports would be recorded; Tom and Mike Fournier explained that reports are logged in PowerSchool under an ‘‘incident’’ record that aligns with state reporting. Board members asked whether a principal or a designee should complete the report; the board agreed the language should read “principal or designee” to reflect common practice.

Other policy actions taken on second read included Policy IHBH (extended learning opportunities), Policy IHBI (alternative learning programs and individual plans), and Policy IIB (class sizes and student–educator ratios). The board discussed class-size changes tied to New Hampshire Department of Education guidance: the prior hard cap (24 per lab/class) was removed in the 306 administrative rules; class sizes are now determined by number of workstations and classroom design. The board approved IIB.

Several items were framed as second reads or as procedural cleanups tied to recent legislative updates; the board tabled a first-read technical update for minutes (state legislation added minute-taker names and meeting start/end times to the required minute elements) for final approval at a future meeting.