Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Student Advisory Council topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Leander ISD student advisory council urges clearer AI guidance, more life-skills and mental-health outreach
Summary
Student leaders from Leander ISD’s Superintendent Student Advisory Council presented findings on AI use, life skills, mental health, academic inclusivity and budget equity, urging targeted district training, a flexible AI policy and better promotion of mental-health resources. The board praised the work and asked administration to follow up.
Acting Superintendent Dr. Clark introduced a series of reports from the Superintendent Student Advisory Council, a student leadership group that presented district research and recommendations on five topics: AI and digital safety; life skills; mental health; academic inclusivity; and budget transparency.
The AI and digital safety group told the board that students and teachers are using generative artificial intelligence widely but lack consistent education about its limits. “Students and educators in LISD are not adequately educated about the uses, limitations and digital safety risks of generative AI,” the group reported, citing district surveys. The students recommended professional development for staff, structured instruction for students on AI limitations and a more explicit handbook policy rather than vague language.
Students also proposed short, modular lessons for life skills (communication, financial literacy, time management) that could be delivered in 7–15 minute classroom segments. The life-skills presenters said surveys of teachers showed strong support for short modules that could be integrated without overburdening class schedules.
On mental health the student presenters said many peers do not know how to access existing district resources and recommended a prominent mental-health tab on campus websites plus a student-run social-media account, supervised by staff, to amplify services. One presenter told the board that “65% of students do not know about any of the resources that are available,” and recommended making resources more visible and accessible.
The academic inclusivity group said freshmen often arrive unaware of available paths and said a one-page summary of key programs (GPA tools, course catalogs, CTE signposts) and a peer-mentoring program could reduce inequities. The budget group recommended forming a student district budget advisory committee and exploring a funding model that would direct excess discretionary funds to new clubs and to link some CTSO funding to related CTE course enrollment.
Board members thanked the students; several trustees said the recommendations were practical and asked administration to report back on next steps. Dr. Clark said she expected follow-up from the students and administration, and the board discussed options for oversight, including a possible board-level plan to monitor implementation.
The presentation concluded with a board Q&A in which trustees pressed for details about implementation and noted that many of the student proposals were low-cost changes in communication or website design. The district did not adopt formal action during the meeting; board members directed administration to follow up on the recommendations and to return with implementation plans where appropriate.
