Bentonville Schools to form AI committee, expand guidance after Mid‑States visit

District curriculum staff told the board on Dec. 17 that Bentonville Schools will form an internal/external AI committee, expand staff professional development and create classroom rubrics to guide appropriate uses of artificial‑intelligence tools.

Erin Nichols, who led the presentation on AI and machine learning, summarized takeaways from a Mid‑States Benchmarking Consortium trip to Naperville, Illinois. Nichols cited the World Economic Forum's 2023 Future of Jobs report and noted “a projection of growth of 40%” and that “over 1,000,000 new jobs are expected by 2027” in technology-driven roles. She said district staff found that many teachers nationwide have limited classroom experience with AI and that Bentonville has started to update policies and vet apps for security and student‑data privacy.

Nichols said the next steps include forming a committee (planned for January) that would include district staff, industry stakeholders and local experts such as Bill Akins, and producing clear guidance and rubrics teachers can use to mark which AI activities are allowed in class. She described classroom examples—teacher tools for efficiency and teachable student applications such as business‑analytics and creative‑media tools—and said the district will pursue additional professional development and stakeholder input, including student representation where appropriate.

Board members asked about student involvement on the committee; Nichols agreed that leadership students and high‑school pathway students could provide useful perspective. The presentation did not include a formal vote; the board acknowledged the report and thanked staff.