San Marino Unified presents AI task force findings and first reading of proposed AI policy
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Summary
The board received a first reading of proposed Board Policy 0441 (Artificial Intelligence) from the district's AI task force; the policy frames nine principles (student-centered use, staff support, ethics/transparency, accountability, equity, data protection) and will return for a second reading in March.
The San Marino Unified School District Board of Education on Jan. 27 received an update from the district’s AI task force and a first reading of proposed Board Policy 0441 (Artificial Intelligence), a template-based policy adapted from the California School Boards Association (CSBA) for local use.
Kwok Hong, who introduced the task force update, said the group — formed in August and composed of teachers, administrators, union representatives, parents, students and at least one board member — has met regularly to explore how artificial intelligence fits the district's instructional goals and to draft proposed guiding principles. The task force identified nine principles for the policy, including student-centered uses of AI to enhance learning, staff-centered uses to support educators (not replace them), ethics and transparency, human accountability, equity and access, data protection and continuous improvement.
Kwok Hong emphasized the task force has not mandated purchases or decisions but instead focused on creating preliminary guidance and recommended administrative procedures to follow the second reading in March. "This work has been intentionally exploratory and collaborative," he said.
Board members and staff discussed classroom implementation concerns and teacher feedback. One speaker representing English departments warned there is "a real fear that students are using artificial intelligence, to plagiarize essays," and others said classroom practice may shift toward more in‑class writing to preserve independent student work. Task force members and district instructional staff said they plan to provide teachers with a short "do's and don'ts" one‑pager and offer professional development and examples of acceptable classroom uses.
The policy will be brought back to the board for a second reading in March, and staff said they will continue work with the task force and consult outside experts and the national education conference sessions scheduled for February.