Pequannock committee outlines timeline for AI policy, aims for board readings in July and August

Pequannock Township School District officials said at the June 23 board meeting they plan a two-reading schedule to adopt an artificial intelligence policy so staff and students have clear guidance for the new school year.

The district’s plan, presented to the Board of Education, calls for a first reading of an AI policy at the July meeting and a second reading in August with a companion implementation plan to follow, district leaders said. “We’re going to look to have a first reading of the AI policy ready for you for the July meeting, and then the August reading will have the second reading,” Doctor Portis said during his report.

Why it matters: The district’s approach would set rules and classroom expectations for student and teacher use of generative AI tools and pair policy language with practical guidance, training and a proposed honor code for students. Board members asked about equity and consistency across classrooms; committee members said they want a staged rollout that preserves teacher discretion while moving toward districtwide standards.

What the board heard - A cross‑stakeholder AI committee with roughly 20 members — including students, special‑education staff, parents and teachers — drafted the plan and tools the district will use. Committee work included outreach to departments and surveys of teacher readiness. - The committee recommended a two‑part approach: a deliberately flexible board policy and a more detailed, updateable plan (curriculum scope, grade‑level introductions, PD and curated resources) that can change faster than a policy. - Committee presenters said they will draft an honor code for inclusion in student handbooks to clarify when use of AI constitutes academic dishonesty rather than plagiarism, and to spell out potential consequences and remediation.

“If you break this code and it’s not necessarily plagiarism…that’s academic dishonesty,” said the committee presenter, who described the honor‑code drafting work and how teachers can require process work or revision histories to detect misuse.

State and peer context - Committee members said districts across New Jersey fall into three groups: districts that block AI use, districts tentatively supporting limited teacher experimentation, and districts that are already integrating AI into classes and policies. The presenter identified his work at the state level with the New Jersey Educational Technology Association and said the committee drew examples from districts such as East Brunswick. - Presenters discussed the possibility that the New Jersey Department of Education could mandate AI instruction or expectations in coming years; the district’s plan aims to provide a flexible policy that can be updated without repeated board action.

Concerns and next steps Board members pressed the committee on equity across classrooms if teachers adopt AI at different rates. The committee said students and families could face inconsistent exposure to AI unless the district defines where in the curriculum students must receive instruction on AI ethics and academic integrity.

The committee’s next steps, as presented: finalize a one‑page guidance tool for teachers this summer, draft a student honor code for the handbook, prepare a full implementation plan for board review in September, and schedule professional development and a parent‑education session in the fall.

The district did not take a formal vote on policy at the June 23 meeting; presenters said the first official board reading is scheduled for July.