Parents press Albany schools for clearer AI rules and demonstrations as district readies FAQ

The Albany City School District on Tuesday fielded a string of public comments urging stricter limits and clearer transparency around classroom uses of artificial intelligence and educational-technology platforms.

At least seven parents and community members asked the board to restrict or temporarily halt AI tools in classrooms and to provide concrete demonstrations and data-privacy details for vendors the district is piloting.

"I am concerned about the high frequency of screen use in my children's classroom. Please set limits such as no screens in preK through first grade," said Kathleen Wait during the public-comment period. Annette Panzeroni asked the district to demonstrate how products named in public comments—Snorkel and Magic School—are used at each grade level and to disclose which entities will have access to student-entered information and how long that information will be retained.

Other commenters urged a moratorium on AI until independent, high-quality evidence shows learning benefits. Harrison Watkins, a parent and Albany schools alumnus, recommended a district-wide technology audit and an AI moratorium "until high quality affirmative evidence has been produced." Several speakers raised similar concerns about screen time's effect on attention, social-emotional development and mental health.

District leaders said they hear those concerns and outlined a two-part response. Superintendent Hawk Rider told the board that the district will publish a parent-facing FAQ in July that explains classroom screen use, approved applications (including AI tools) and typical student experiences. The FAQ will be followed by in-person opportunities in August for parents to "experience technology from a student perspective," the superintendent said, and district staff plan to solicit parent feedback before finalizing guidance.

Hillary Papanu thanked Dr. Prespatino's June 4 presentation and urged the district to establish a timely parent-notification policy and to include parent input across grade levels when shaping "responsible age-appropriate student AI use." Annette Panzeroni specifically asked whether contracts grant vendors rights to reproduce or otherwise use student-submitted data; the sample contract text read into the record described a vendor license to use "organization data," and commenters asked the district to clarify who will be able to see student inputs and whether vendors may sell or retain that data.

Dr. Prespatino and other staff said the FAQ will address approved applications, screen-time expectations by grade band and next steps for demonstrations; they also said district teams are reviewing contracts and will provide additional detail to the board and the public. No new restrictions or moratoriums were adopted at the meeting; board members asked that drafts of the FAQ be shared with the board before it is posted publicly and discussed whether portions of the FAQ should inform a formal AI policy.

The district also announced it will transition from SchoolTool to Infinite Campus in July and will distribute parent login credentials and run an information session in early August; several board members framed the Infinite Campus rollout as part of broader parent communications about technology.

Next steps: the district will publish the FAQ in July, schedule demonstrations and parent-focused, hands-on sessions in August and return recommendations to the board for any formal policy changes. Commenters requested a vendor-specific presentation and clearer disclosure of data access, retention and licensing terms.