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Parents and clinicians press Concord schools for clearer data and oversight on classroom technology use
Summary
During public comment, local parents and clinicians urged the district to produce a technology‑use report with student screen‑time by grade, existing policies, and an inventory of digital/AI tools; callers also recommended creating a technology advisory committee.
Multiple community members used the May 20 public comment period to press the district to assess and report how digital devices and AI tools are being used in classrooms.
Emily Lines, who said she helped launch the Intentional Tech Coalition, thanked the committee for committing to a district report and asked that it include three specific items: student screen‑time data (weekly averages by grade), any existing written technology policies, and a grade‑by‑grade inventory of digital learning and AI apps with stated educational purposes. "Gathering this baseline information about current educational technology and AI use across grade levels is an important and constructive step," she said.
Dr. Amy Amick, a board‑certified neurologist and parent, urged an evidence‑based approach that centers child development. "We may not fully understand all of the underlying mechanisms yet, but we do know that the physical act of writing by hand appears to strengthen learning literacy pathways in the developing brain," she said, adding that the district should ask whether screens are improving or displacing learning and well‑being.
Kim Forsyth, a parent and local mental‑health provider, described the Intentional Tech Coalition’s advocacy work and asked for clearer communication and transparency around technology’s intended instructional use and family engagement.
Several speakers proposed forming a technology advisory committee to help interpret data, vet tools (including AI), and produce recommendations. Committee members thanked speakers and said district staff had planned a meeting with parent representatives in June to begin information‑sharing.
What’s next: committee leadership confirmed a June meeting with lead parents to discuss technology concerns and to begin information flow between parents and district staff.
