Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Handbooks topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Harvard School Committee approves updated handbooks with AI policy and new high-school rules
Summary
The Committee voted unanimously to adopt updated handbooks for HES, TBMS and TBHS that add AI-use guidance, clarify absence procedures, and formalize high-school senior privileges and new graduation requirements.
The Harvard School Committee on Aug. 25 approved updated student handbooks for HES, TBMS and TBHS, including a new policy addressing classroom uses of artificial intelligence and changes to high‑school graduation and senior-privilege procedures.
Dr. Linda Dwight, the superintendent, presented the HES handbook changes made by Principal Rebecca Katsh-Singer, which include preschool scheduling adjustments, a nut‑free field trip policy, dress-code clarifications, restorative-practice procedures, and an AI implementation policy. Dr. Katharine Covino asked the committee to “see concrete examples of how AI policies are being implemented in different classrooms,” and Amy Morton praised the addition of the AI policy as a positive step for school leaders.
The committee discussed clarifications to TBMS absence-notes and educator name updates after Dr. Dwight reviewed edits from Principal Daniel Hudder. For TBHS, edits from Principal Kim Murphy introduced new graduation requirements and a formalized set of rules for senior privileges (including limits on use of certain exits and specified cafeteria procedures); the handbook also adds email and website links for homework resources.
Each handbook was approved by a roll-call vote of 4-0. The committee noted restorative-practices training for staff is planned in November and that elementary and middle school educators recently met to coordinate restorative approaches.
The committee did not advance additional substantive changes to implementation timelines during the meeting; staff and principals will proceed with notifying families about preschool half days and other operational details.
