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District expands 'skills before screens' approach and outlines device limits, data collection and AI policy work
Summary
Granville County’s technology director and committee presented recommendations to limit device use for younger students, keep take-home devices off elementary and middle school rosters, continue 1:1 at high school, and collect more data; the board discussed communications, exemptions and drafting an AI policy.
The Granville County Board of Education received a broad technology update June 2 that formalized priorities from the Balance Forward committee, including a district motto of 'skills before screens,' tighter device access for early grades, and a planned generative-AI policy.
Michael Sprdlin, the district’s director of technology, told the board the committee — about 25–30 educators across grades and roles — reviewed a technology audit and survey data from staff and students and recommended several changes. Key proposals include limiting device access for kindergarten through second grade, providing teacher carts (five devices as a baseline) for centers, eliminating take-home devices for elementary and middle school students (devices would remain on campus for scheduled lessons), and retaining one-to-one devices for high school students where coursework and CTE programs rely on them.
Sprdlin framed the change as balancing technology with intentional instruction: 'Skills before screens,' he said, summarizing the committee’s guiding statement. The committee suggested exemptions: building-level short-term exemptions for specific projects (for example, multi‑day research projects) and course-level exemptions (e.g., keyboarding instruction). District staff said teachers or principals could request exemptions, and building leaders can approve short-term classroom uses.
Board members pressed for parent outreach, data collection, and clarity about AI. Staff said they surveyed teachers and students this year (high response rate from teachers) and plan to survey parents and expand data collection next year. On AI, the administration said it is reviewing model policies from other districts and expects to present a generative-AI policy after more research. The board praised the district’s balance-focused rollout but asked administration to return with clear communications for families and explicit metrics to evaluate the policy’s classroom impact.
The technology committee also previewed summer professional development for teachers focused on non‑screen engagement and announced plans for optional summer PD on July 14–15 for staff to learn strategies for intentional, high‑engagement instruction.
Administration said it will monitor outcomes and report findings to the board; no formal policy vote occurred at this meeting.
