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Westonka outlines AI guidance, testing schedule and new career‑tech labs
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Summary
District presenters described AI guidance for teachers, prioritizing student data privacy, planned model policy for board review, state testing timelines, and upcoming nursing and machining labs tied to Perkins funding.
District teaching-and-learning staff gave a multi-part update that covered state testing logistics, the district’s approach to artificial intelligence in classrooms and plans for career‑technical lab spaces.
On assessments, staff said students are taking MCAs in reading, math and science, with preliminary draft results available within about an hour after individual students finish; official state results for certain subjects will be released in the fall after a statewide review that sets cut scores. Staff explained that the district administers an alternative MCA (formerly MTAS) for qualifying special-education students and that those tests require separate training and accommodations.
On artificial intelligence, the presenter said data privacy is the district’s top priority. The district has a partnership with QBS (Quad Hooper Solutions) to develop teacher guidance and a procedures playbook for AI use in classrooms. Staff plan to bring an MSBA model AI policy to the district’s administrative team and then ask the board to approve an AI policy before the start of the next school year. “Data privacy of student data is number 1 priority when we’re working with AI,” the presenter said.
District staff also described planned professional development: a procedural workshop with QBS on April 29 and a team of seven staff attending the Minnesota Generative AI Association conference in June to learn from other districts. The presenter emphasized training for staff and communication plans for parents about how AI tools will be used in instruction.
Finally, staff said career‑technical programming is expanding: the district expects a nursing lab and a machining lab to be ready as construction phases complete and will submit an application to the Department of Health to certify nursing‑related programs. The board received the update; no formal action on AI policy or lab certification occurred at this meeting.
