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Superintendent updates board on AI engagement, electric bus expansion and federal audit outcome
Summary
Superintendent Dr. Saltzman reported on district AI family engagement, a plan to grow the electric bus fleet to 15 buses by 2026 using EPA and state funding, propane buses saving about $200,000 annually, and federal review of Emergency Connectivity Fund spending that did not require repayment, according to the FCC determination cited.
Superintendent Dr. Saltzman told the board the district is continuing outreach on artificial intelligence use in schools, expanding electric buses, and has received favorable federal review of COVID-era technology grants.
Saltzman summarized a Jan. 16 “Let’s Connect” event focused on artificial intelligence in education. He said the district convened about 40 teachers on an AI committee across grade levels plus teacher resources and an AI handbook. The superintendent reported survey feedback from the event: 73% of attendees found the meeting informative and 53% said Q&A was their favorite component; participants flagged ethical considerations such as bias mitigation and student privacy as priority areas.
On transportation, Saltzman said the district started using electric school buses in September and has secured additional funding from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Washington State Department of Ecology to increase the electric fleet. The superintendent said the district will have 15 electric buses by 2026. He also noted the district’s transportation contractor, Durham School Services, recently acquired 25 propane buses for the district and the district expects to save over $200,000 annually by using propane instead of diesel or unleaded gasoline.
Saltzman also described a donation: Penny Creek Elementary received a $10,000 gift from the Doan family and a $10,000 matching donation from Boeing on behalf of Jeff Doan; funds will purchase security cameras, PE gym equipment and a “century walk” to support social‑emotional learning at Penny Creek.
Board members also heard a report about federal auditing of Emergency Connectivity Fund (ECF) program usage during the COVID period. The superintendent said the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) reviewed the Washington State auditor’s report and the district response and determined the district complied with ECF rules for unmet need and per‑unit limit documentation. As a result, the superintendent reported the FCC concluded the district does not need to return the ECF grant funds referenced in the district’s federal single‑audit finding. (The meeting transcript included numeric text that was not consistently presented; the district’s written management decision letter should be consulted for the exact amounts and accounting details.)
Saltzman closed by thanking staff and community partners and noting the district’s ongoing focus on inclusive, safe schools for all students.
