Barbourville School Committee adopts AI policy, approves calendar and several personnel actions; authorizes space-needs study RFP

BARBOURVILLE, R.I. — The Barbourville School Committee on Feb. 11 approved a second-reading policy governing use of generative artificial intelligence in classrooms and staff work, signed off on several financial and personnel measures, and directed staff to develop a request for proposals for an outside engineering and feasibility study of district facilities.

The AI policy (Policy 34-21) passed after discussion of professional development and technology platforms. Superintendent Dr. Solito said the district held a recent professional-development roundtable on AI attended by “about 25 to 30 teachers” and that the approved policy will be followed by a protocol distributed to faculty and staff explaining age-appropriate classroom uses and limits. “We’ll continue to offer those kind of opportunities for teachers,” Dr. Solito said.

Why it matters: The policy aims to set boundaries for student and staff use of generative tools while allowing the district flexibility to work with multiple platforms as technologies evolve. The committee’s action also comes as staff and students increasingly encounter AI tools outside school, prompting committee members to weigh academic integrity, privacy and instructional opportunities.

Key actions and debate - Artificial intelligence policy: Committee members asked how the district plans to train staff and which platforms might be used. Dr. Solito said the policy intentionally does not list specific platforms to avoid locking the district into quickly changing products and noted that Google Workspace’s enterprise features were among the privacy options discussed. After discussion, the committee voted to approve the policy.

- Professional development and classroom use: The student representative, Ben, described a constructive classroom use: asking an AI to generate or debug code to support a SkillsUSA project when the student had not taken formal coding classes. “I use it today in engineering … it can output code for me and debug code for me,” Ben said, explaining the tool supplied a starting point that students could then edit.

- Space-needs study: Dr. Solito reported the district plans to issue an RFP to firms on the Rhode Island Department of Education master price agreement for an engineering and feasibility study. The study would review building conditions, enrollment projections and potential options and would assemble the documentation required if the district later seeks RIDE approval for capital work. The superintendent said the RFP should be ready in one to two weeks and will be returned to the school committee and the town council for next steps.

- Budget and calendar: The committee confirmed the proposed 2025–26 school calendar, with the last day currently scheduled for June 16, and said the calendar aligns state-recommended break weeks to reduce child-care conflicts for staff and families. The superintendent also reminded members the district’s presentation to the town budget board is scheduled for Feb. 20 at the Town Council chambers.

- Personnel and retirements: The committee approved a leave of absence for Assistant Principal Ashley Kranca effective on or before March 24 through May 16, 2025; accepted the retirements of Systems Analyst Gregory Romowicz (effective May 23, 2025) and Principal Monica Thompson (effective June 30, 2025); and received and filed several resignations and appointments listed on the agenda.

Votes at a glance - Approve minutes of Jan. 14 executive session and regular meeting — motion made by Donison; seconded by Dave Landry; outcome: approved (voice vote). - Approve January 2025 warrant No. 7, total expenditures $2,522,673.30 — motion made by Donison; seconded; outcome: approved (voice vote). - Approve leave: Ashley Kranca, assistant principal, Burrillville High School, on or before March 24–May 16, 2025 — motion made by Donison; outcome: approved. - Accept retirements: Gregory Romowicz (systems analyst) and Monica Thompson (principal, A.T. Levy) with effective dates noted — motion made by Donison; seconded by Sylvia; outcome: approved. - Approve Policy 34-21 (Artificial Intelligence) — motion made by Donison; seconded by Sylvia; outcome: approved (voice vote). - Approve Policy 42-19 (Internal controls for management of grants) — motion made by Donison; seconded; outcome: approved (voice vote). - Approve Policy 42-20 (Title I funding methodology) — motion made by Sylvia; seconded by Dave Landry; outcome: approved (voice vote). - Approve 2025–26 school calendar — motion made by Sylvia; seconded by Donison; outcome: approved (voice vote). - Approve annual school committee meeting calendar for 2025–26 — motion made by Sylvia; seconded by Dave Landry; outcome: approved. - Approve homeschool applications as listed — motion made and approved (voice vote). - Approve Policy 737311 (Youth nutrition student account policy) — motion made by Sylvia; seconded by Dave Landry; outcome: approved. - Approve DECA overnight field trip to Orlando, Fla. — motion made by Sylvia; seconded by Victor; outcome: approved.

Discussion vs. formal direction - Discussion: Committee members raised questions about training, platform privacy and how rubrics and assignments will shape AI use. The student representative described classroom and extracurricular use cases. Members also thanked BPAC coordinator Monica Blanchette for her service and noted her impending departure from the coordinator role. - Direction/next steps: Superintendent to finalize and issue an RFP for an engineering and feasibility study and to distribute the AI protocol to staff once the policy is final. The superintendent also said he will confirm the exact start time for the Feb. 20 budget presentation. - Formal decisions: The policies and personnel motions listed above were approved by voice vote.

Details, clarifications and items of record - Warrant total: $2,522,673.30 (January 2025, warrant No. 7). - Leave request: Ashley Kranca, assistant principal, Burrillville High School — on or before March 24, 2025 through May 16, 2025. - Retirements: Gregory Romowicz (systems analyst), effective May 23, 2025; Monica Thompson (principal, A.T. Levy), effective June 30, 2025. - Space needs study: Superintendent said the RFP will be sent to firms on the RIDE master price agreement; the RFP will request engineering and feasibility options and cost estimates.

Ending: The committee adjourned after completing the agenda. The district’s next externally scheduled presentation is the Feb. 20 budget presentation in the Town Council chambers; the superintendent said he would confirm the precise start time.