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Parents urge Concord schools to create a technology advisory committee as concerns over devices and privacy grow
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Summary
During public comment, parents and a former DHS official urged the district to form a technology advisory committee to advise on AI, data privacy, device use and student safety; speakers cited research on attention and rising online threats and asked that experts be included.
Several parents and community members told the Concord School Committee on April 15 that the district should form a technology advisory committee to guide decisions on classroom tech, data privacy and emerging issues such as artificial intelligence.
"Technology is no longer a classroom tool. It's in the fabric of our students' lives," said Britney Horton, a Concord parent who works in the tech sector, urging the committee to "tap into the deep well of technological expertise within the Concord community" and help the district with "future proofing, expert vetting and policy support."
Merrill Dolan, another parent, raised three central concerns: cognitive development and shrinking attention spans, social development and relationship-building, and data privacy tied to rapidly introduced tools. "My ask tonight is that the school committee consider working with parents to create a technology advisory committee here in Concord," she said.
Beth Neitzel, who described prior federal work on combating online exploitation, warned that social platforms with chat functions open opportunities for predators. "Any access to social media or an online or gaming platform that has chat is an opening for these predators," she said, urging the committee to ensure the proposed advisory body includes expertise on online-safety and data privacy.
Speakers suggested the advisory committee would not be about banning technology but about building transparent, evidence-based processes for adopting tools, including opt-out mechanisms and guidance on age-appropriate use. Committee members thanked speakers and did not commit to a formal next step at the meeting.
The range of concerns — from classroom distraction to digital safety — indicates parents want more systematic review before new tech is adopted. Several commenters recommended including parents, IT staff, educators, legal/privacy experts and community technologists on any advisory panel.
