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District outlines literacy training contracts and a teacher‑only AI rollout
Summary
The board heard staff describe renewal/continuation of Phonics First training and Renaissance assessment tools, plus a staged Magic School AI rollout for teachers (not students) to generate rubrics, lessons and assessments.
District curriculum and technology staff told the board they are continuing several established professional programs and piloting an AI toolkit for teacher workflows.
Shannon (S14) said Phonics First — a state‑required literacy program under the literacy act — will be offered as asynchronous professional development; staff quoted the course window and materials included. "Phonics First ... the teachers have 45 days to complete the training, and it includes the classroom materials that they need to implement the program," a curriculum staffer said.
Staff also described Renaissance (DNA/Renaissance suite) assessment tools for building formative assessments aligned to state standards; the quoted continuation cost for that product this year was approximately $134,000.
On AI, David (S15) said the district will not allow student‑facing AI at this time and will give teachers controlled access under district policy. "We're not turning it on for the students right now. It's just for the teachers," he said, and described Magic School as a multi‑tool suite (rubric and lesson generators, diagnostic‑assessment creators, IEP/behavior‑plan helpers) to be rolled out within policy guardrails.
Board members asked about caps on session sizes for Phonics First and the district's plan for vendor oversight; staff said sessions are capped to match teacher interest and Brainspring's limits and that licensing arrangements and implementation will be overseen from curriculum and IT.
