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Okaloosa district drafts AI acceptable‑use policy; board emphasizes curriculum guardrails and teacher training
Summary
A draft artificial intelligence acceptable‑use policy was presented and discussed; the board and staff said it will provide classroom guardrails, allow administrative guidelines to evolve, and require FERPA‑compliant practices and training for staff and teachers.
The School Board of Okaloosa County reviewed a proposed policy governing use of artificial intelligence (AI) by students, teachers and staff in district schools and workplaces.
Attorney Michael McGinnis and district staff said the draft policy “gives us some guidelines for the use of our schools and our teachers and our students and our other employees,” and that the rapidly changing technology means the policy will be updated over time. McGinnis told the board: “It provides certain items here that are not acceptable use of AI. It provides a list of things that are acceptable use of AI. It empowers the teachers in the classroom to determine when AI is appropriate to be used in the assignments by the students in their classes.”
Board members emphasized that the policy should not prevent teachers from using AI as an instructional tool while prohibiting abusive uses that would circumvent student learning. Superintendent Chambers said he did not want the policy to “be a deterrent or something that prohibits teachers from utilizing it the right way.”
Union and curriculum representatives sought clarity on data privacy and FERPA compliance. A board member highlighted the need for training so teachers understand when AI use could unintentionally expose student data; district staff noted the draft contains explicit language that use of AI must not violate FERPA.
The draft also authorizes the superintendent and staff to issue administrative guidelines that can be adjusted as the technology and classroom practice evolve. The board was told stakeholders across departments and unions reviewed the draft and that staff will follow a standard roll‑out process — principal briefings, preplanning for teachers and communication to staff — prior to any final adoption.
The policy was presented for advertisement of a public hearing; board members signaled they expect to revisit and refine the language after stakeholder input and operational testing.
