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Pleasantville board approves first reading of AI-use policy and updates data-security rule
Summary
Trustees approved the first reading of a new artificial-intelligence use policy, discussed training and disclosure rules for students and staff, and approved a technical update to the district’s data-security policy; the district temporarily blocked ChatGPT on student devices while seeking a staff-only workaround.
The Pleasantville Union Free School District Board of Education on July 7 approved a first reading of Policy 5840 governing artificial-intelligence use and adopted a narrow update to Policy 5672 on information and data security.
The AI policy was presented as a short, modular document intended to evolve with rapidly changing technology. Interim Superintendent Eric Lutinski described core elements: district vetting of tools before classroom use, required disclosure when students use AI, protections against deepfakes, and training and reporting expectations for staff and students. Trustees and the student ex officio pressed for classroom practicality and asked whether course syllabuses and acceptable-use rules will need revision.
Why it matters: Schools nationwide are wrestling with how to balance instructional benefits from generative AI against academic integrity, student safety and data privacy. The policy establishes a district framework for approving tools and ensuring teachers retain judgment about whether AI is appropriate for evaluative tasks.
Trustees discussed enforcement and consequences under the district’s code of conduct; Lutinski said consequences will be age-appropriate and tied to educational remediation rather than only punitive measures.
Technical actions and ChatGPT access: District IT staff reported that students discovered a workaround that allowed access to ChatGPT on district-issued MacBooks. As a result, the district temporarily blocked ChatGPT for staff and students while it develops a configuration that would permit staff but not students to use the tool. The board heard that staff access had previously been allowed but the workaround made student access possible.
Data-security update: The board also reviewed Policy 5672 (Information and Data Security, Breach and Notification). The recommended change was limited to updating a NIST reference (from 1.1 to 2.0); trustees noted related public-facing material such as the student data inventory and a parents’ bill-of-rights section. The board approved the revision and voted to waive a second reading where applicable.
Next steps: Administration and the technology department will continue vetting vendor tools, develop training and reporting processes, reconcile policy language with existing acceptable-use rules and return with a second reading of the AI policy and any policy cross-references.
