Carlsbad Unified outlines three‑year tech plan; union urges stronger device security and AI filtering

Carlsbad Unified technology leaders presented the district’s three‑year strategic technology plan at the Dec. 10 board meeting, outlining goals across instructional practice, professional learning and infrastructure.

Director Robert Allen and Superintendent Brian Brockett summarized progress since a 2024 plan adoption: a baseline survey of students and staff, expanded use of Chromebooks, Windows→Chrome device migrations, a server and switch refresh funded in part through E‑rate, adoption of Aeries gradebook and ParentSquare communications, a data governance initiative, and a new student ambassador program to include student voice in policy development. The district said it will finalize AI use guidelines next month and emphasized training for teachers on using technology for deeper learning rather than substitution.

During public comment Rachel Marino Ott, CUDA union president, raised two technology concerns: (1) staff are being required in practice to rely on personal phones for two‑factor authentication to access district devices; she recommended district‑issued USB security keys or other token devices; and (2) student access to large language models and generative AI should be subject to stronger, dynamic filtering and monitoring to protect attention, academic integrity and student wellbeing.

District staff responded that USB‑style security keys (YubiKeys) are available but are costly (~$50 each) and that other options (calls/text codes tied to classroom numbers) also exist. Allen described the district’s two‑layer approach to filtering: IBOSS (proxy filter) applies to Chromebooks and follows a student’s sign‑in off campus, and Bark alerts on concerning language. Endorsed instructional AI tools that meet FERPA/COPPA and vendor privacy agreements (examples given: Gemini under Google Workspace, Snorkel, MagicSchool, Claude) may be available and logged; some public tools such as ChatGPT have historically been allowed but are restricted in sign‑in with student Google accounts.

Trustees pressed for grade‑level breakdowns of device usage and time‑on‑device metrics; staff said they can produce data by grade and by application from dashboards and will return with those reports. Trustees also asked whether monitoring could flag concerning student mental‑health signals if students use AI for emotional support; staff said current filters do not flag that automatically and recommended researching tools that detect such patterns as part of implementing AI guidelines.

No votes were taken on the plan itself; trustees directed staff to bring back finalized AI guidelines and additional data on usage and filtering.

Key points - The plan sets qualitative goals to measure how devices are used for critical thinking and mastery rather than raw device counts. - Infrastructure work includes server and switch refresh, camera upgrades under consideration, and surplus/asset management improvements. - Staff use a dual filter approach (IBOSS proxy and Bark alerts) and will use privacy review (FERPA/COPPA) to endorse AI tools.

Next steps: Final AI policy/guidelines to be presented to the board next month; staff will provide grade‑level usage and time metrics on devices.