San Juan Unified outlines cautious, teacher-led rollout of AI tools and pledges stronger screen-time reporting

San Juan Unified School District leaders on Wednesday described a measured, teacher‑centered strategy to introduce artificial‑intelligence tools into classrooms while prioritizing student privacy and professional learning.

In a 45‑minute presentation, district staff said the district has licensed tools including Kami, Magic School and Magic Student, and has set “non‑negotiables” for core instructional technology that emphasize data security, accessibility and teacher oversight. Nicole Kucrow, director of professional learning, told the board the district now has 2,632 staff users of Magic School — about 58.5% of staff — and that teachers control which Magic Student tools are available to students and can monitor every student interaction.

The board was told the district treats AI as “human‑centered” technology: staff and students receive grade‑appropriate instruction on how AI is trained, how to evaluate outputs, and how to use it as a partner rather than a replacement for student thinking. Kucrow said, “We emphasize safety and security first, and that AI is used with intentionality, insight, and integrity.”

Why it matters: School districts nationwide are weighing how to balance the instructional benefits of generative AI against risks to privacy, equity and foundational skill development. San Juan’s approach centers teachers in decision‑making and limits direct student access to teacher‑approved tools, which the district said reduces the risk of unmonitored data sharing.

Board members voiced support and detailed questions. Ben Avey said he sees AI as a new, generational change in education but urged deliberate professional learning: “When we hit a point where AI or technology becomes the standard, how do we make sure that we’re giving our professionals the opportunity to learn that standard?” Board member Boyce praised the district’s emphasis on intentionality and safety, saying the toggle features (for example, turning Kami on or off) are key to appropriate classroom use.

Privacy and contracts: Technical staff explained that San Juan uses a California IT privacy‑vetting service and requires vendors to disclose the data collected and prohibit sharing student data beyond instructional purposes. Peter Skibitski, senior director of technology services, said those contracts conform with AB 1584 and described the district’s use of “stateless” implementations so local teacher/student data are not fed back into large, external AI model training.

Next steps and screen time: Several trustees asked for follow‑up. Trustees asked staff to return with a report that quantifies student “touchpoints” with instructional technology (the district said it cannot currently measure hours online but can report logins and interactions) and to identify existing guidelines or best practices around screen use. Superintendent staff agreed to prepare that report for a future board meeting.

Board and staff exchanges were largely constructive and noncontentious; the presentation ended with trustees asking for more details on professional‑learning timelines, data the district can produce about technology use by grade, and how the AI rollout will remain aligned with the district’s LCAP goals.