Westborough presents phased AI implementation plan and technology update emphasizing safety, educator training
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Summary
District technology leaders outlined device progression, data-privacy safeguards and a multi-year AI implementation plan that limits generative AI for preK-3, begins guided AI literacy in grade 4, prioritizes FERPA/COPPA compliance and aims to build educator capacity through multi-year professional development.
District technology staff and the AI committee presented a technology update and a draft AI implementation plan designed to integrate generative AI into classroom practice while preserving human-led instruction and student safety.
John Green, director of technology (S5), summarized district device progression and safeguards: iPads in early grades, Chromebooks for grades 7'9 that go home as needed, and personal devices for grades 10 through 12 with district-provided devices for students with demonstrated financial need. Green described content filters (YouTube restrictions, Google SafeSearch), student-data minimization practices (Google accounts use only first name, last name and graduation year), membership in a Tech Student Data Privacy Alliance for vendor negotiations, and infrastructure work (Wi-Fi and PA replacement projects) that have driven the technology budget. Green said FY27 pressures will lean toward hardware, repairs and software maintenance.
Matt (S2), presenting the AI implementation plan developed by an AI committee and working group, said the district views generative AI as a partner to augment teaching rather than replace it. The plan is structured around four pillars: governance and policy (including FERPA/COPPA compliance), curriculum and student literacy, educator capacity building (multi-year PD), and community/family engagement. The draft recommends preserving a generative-AI-free environment for preK through grade 3, introducing guided AI literacy beginning in grade 4, and advancing to department-specific secondary applications. Matt noted the district's use of educational LLMs ("notebook lm" and Google Gemini) within the Google Workspace for Education environment and said these are provisioned to meet COPPA/FERPA obligations.
Committee members asked how student-use agreements were being implemented. Matt said a student-use document was provided to high-schoolers this year and that vice principals had required students to complete a Google form; the district plans to update handbooks to address plagiarism, deepfakes and cyberbullying. Several committee members emphasized academic integrity and the importance of preserving in-class writing opportunities while using AI instructionally.
Matt and staff framed the rollout as iterative, with benchmarks through 2028, and flagged potential future issues such as agentic AI and the need for human oversight in automated workflows (payroll or other administrative tasks). The committee supported continuing the phased approach, augmenting health curriculum with social-emotional lessons on AI risks, and building teacher capacity.
Next steps: continue departmental-level planning, expand PD offerings, update handbooks, and monitor vendor offerings and legal compliance.
