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Duluth schools plan Google Gemini rollout for high schools; auditors to complete ESST review by Dec. 1
Summary
District leaders told the board the Google Gemini AI platform will be phased in for high-school students after teacher training and communications; finance staff also reported auditors are conducting an intensive ESST (earned safe and sick time) review with a Dec. 1 submission deadline.
District technology and curriculum leaders told the Duluth Public Schools board on Nov. 18 they plan to roll out Google Gemini to high-school students in a phased approach, with teacher training slated during professional-development days and student access opening after February break.
Director Krieger said the district is "looking to roll out of Google Gemini to, into our high school students, this coming February," and described a training timeline that includes professional-development sessions on Dec. 8, an asynchronous training day on Jan. 2, teacher preparation in January and phased student onboarding at the end of the first semester.
Administration emphasized communications and equity: training for staff, messaging for families, and an effort to keep the product inside a controlled district environment. Student representative Dean told the board students are already using AI informally and urged explicit district guidance and public messaging about impacts, adding concerns about the environmental footprint of AI systems and the need for transparent information for students.
Separately, Executive Finance Director Samo Zunich told the board auditors are conducting a deep ESST (earned safe and sick time) review that is more intensive than prior audits and that the district aims to complete the audit submission to the Minnesota Department of Education by Dec. 1; auditors may require additional documentation and timelines depend on auditor needs.
