Radnor reviews 2024–25 initiatives and debates AI role as district sets goals for 2025–26

District leaders presented a high-level review of the 2024–25 initiatives and a draft of proposed 2025–26 initiatives at the Aug. 26 board meeting, emphasizing three connected priorities: belonging, wellness and achievement.

Achievement: curriculum and assessment updates Administrators said MTSS (Multi-Tiered System of Supports) has matured from rollout to refinement, that the district adopted a new K–5 ELA program (presented on slides as 'inter reading' with publisher Houghton Mifflin referenced), and that early results from math and new benchmarks show gains: initial implementation indicators on standardized tests were described as improved (administration cited district slides showing increases in proficiency for grades 3–8 and PSSA gains).

Belonging and wellness: positive psychology and digital wellness The district described a fourth year of belonging work and a shift toward integrating positive‑psychology professional development with the Dignity framework. Wellness updates included rollout of a revised homework policy, follow-up to the Pennsylvania Youth Survey, and digital‑wellness programs. Administrators said the high school will expect phones to be away during the school day and that elementary devices will not routinely go home—moves meant to reduce screen time and improve student focus.

AI in schools: teacher tools, guarded rollout and board concerns Administrators described steps taken over the last year to address artificial intelligence: handbook language, an administrative regulation tied to the acceptable‑use policy, teacher professional development and pilot work focused on awareness, ethics and media literacy. Dr. Kevin Hand (AI lead) said the district vetted a platform called Magic School AI as a teacher productivity tool with a 'walled garden' option and currently recommends it for teacher use rather than open student deployment.

Board members voiced differing views. Ms. Stern said she opposed proactively introducing AI into classrooms for younger grades and cautioned that it could undercut the district's digital‑wellness goals. Other board members and administrators urged careful, age‑appropriate adoption that emphasizes ethical use and critical evaluation skills. Administrators said Magic School AI is being positioned first as a vetted tool for teachers and that any student-facing use would be deliberative and limited.

"We want to emphasize kids actually using their own brains," Dr. Hand said, adding the district aims to teach media and AI literacy so students can assess accuracy when they encounter AI-generated content.

Next steps: administration will present detailed initiative documents for formal board approval at the September meeting. Dr. Sean Dukiewicz, who led the curriculum presentation and is departing for a superintendent position elsewhere, was thanked by board members and the Radnor Township Education Association for his service.