Dearborn schools outline Google Gemini pilot and promise board review of AI policy
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Summary
District technology leaders described a Google Gemini pilot for teachers and students and told trustees a slow rollout and board-reviewed AI policy and staff training are planned; the teachers’ union urged caution about classroom technology and student development.
Dearborn Public Schools technology officials told the Board of Education on April 13 that the district has launched a controlled pilot with Google Gemini and plans to bring an AI policy and guidelines to the board before broad classroom use.
Bob Ade, the district’s director of instructional technology, said the pilot drew more than 130 teacher applicants and staff randomly selected 10 teachers to participate so the district could evaluate tools, training and ethical safeguards. He said Google staff will provide training and that students in the superintendent’s student advisory council saw demonstrations emphasizing ethical use and data protection.
Chris Kenneberg, described by Ade as the assistant regional manager and supervisor of networks, said the district’s approach is to standardize a small set of vetted tools (including Gemini, Brisk and SchoolAI) so teachers and students use consistent, FERPA- and COPPA-compliant systems. He said the district can "pull the plug" on Gemini if needed but that embedded features in some platforms make complete removal more complicated.
Trustees pressed for details on monitoring and rollout. A board member asked whether teachers or classrooms could opt out; staff said participation would be optional for classrooms and that class-level controls ("Class Tools") will limit student access. The district said it plans to require an AI component in some staff courses beginning in the 2026–27 school year and that policy language will be reviewed by the board and the policy committee before expansion.
Cathy Martin, representing the Dearborn Federation of Teachers, urged restraint and asked the board to "thoughtfully reconsider" widespread technology reliance in classrooms, especially for younger students. Martin cited concerns about attention, speech and fine-motor development, student data privacy and ongoing litigation involving some education platforms.
What happens next: District staff said an AI policy and guidelines being drafted by the Technology Advisory Committee will come to the board for review; the rollout will remain phased and monitored. Trustees asked staff to return with clear policy language and monitoring mechanisms.
