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Salem schools roll out AI guidance for staff, student-use chart and training plans
Summary
District IT and leadership presented AI guidelines for educators, a student-use function chart and plans for staff training and a technology advisory committee; Google Gemini is now available under district agreement and alerting systems will monitor student chatbot inputs for safety flags.
Salem Public Schools officials outlined proposed guidance and training around artificial intelligence at the school committee’s Sept. 8 meeting, saying the district will issue educator guidelines, a student AI function chart for assignments and a monthly professional-development series for teachers.
Mark, the district’s technology lead, said staff and student advisory groups, plus a DESE AI cohort and an MIT session attended by district staff, informed the guidance. “We spent a lot of last year learning and listening,” he said during the meeting, and staff distilled that learning into draft guidance placed in the committee packet.
The student AI function chart — intended for teachers to attach to assignments — will specify whether AI is allowed and at what level (for example, for research, outlines or citation help) or disallowed. Mark said Google’s updated enterprise agreement now includes Gemini, which “can be used by all students at any age level,” easing prior access restrictions.
District officials said they will deliver roughly monthly after-school training sessions for educators (paid opportunities) and form a technology advisory committee that will include classroom voices. The advisory group will advise on hardware and software procurement and AI implementation decisions.
Deputy Superintendent Carboni and Mark described safety measures: the district’s Google-based filtering and alerting system will include chatbot inputs (including Gemini) so that if a student enters text that triggers a concern about wellbeing, designated staff at each school receive alerts and can follow up. Carboni said the district is considering adding counselor-focused AI training and family outreach about risks and responsible use.
Committee members raised equity and ethics questions. Member Miranda asked whether AI could displace human connections; officials said lessons about social-media risks will be adapted for AI and that library/digital-skills instruction will include age-appropriate modules. Member Cruz added that federal grant programs now allow AI professional development as an eligible expense, which could support implementation.
Officials said they will bring draft policies to the policy committee later this year as needed.
