Board to advertise AI and academic-honesty policies after questions about teacher input

The Leon County School Board voted to advertise a new artificial-intelligence policy (agenda item 19.04, policy 7,540.08) for a public hearing and adoption on May 13, 2025. Brian Blessing, who summarized the policy, said its purpose is to define acceptable AI uses for the district, protect student data and require a closed system so uploaded documents are used only for the requested task and then are not retained for other users. Blessing told the board an administrative procedure will be written after the policy is approved to provide more specificity.

Trustees asked whether teacher voices and broader stakeholder input were included. One board member urged a working group of teachers to help shape administrative procedures and guardrails; Blessing said principals had been on the committee and that teacher representatives, including Sylvia Williams Myers, provided feedback.

The board also voted to advertise a new academic-honesty policy (agenda item 19.05, listed in the agenda as 55 0 5) to accompany the AI policy. Blessing said the academic-honesty policy will clarify that students cannot claim credit for work that is not theirs and will be included in student handbooks if adopted.

Both motions passed unanimously after motion, second and brief discussion. Trustees said they expect administrative procedures and teacher input to be developed between the public hearing and the final adoption vote.