Committee members review AI training, privacy and cybersecurity in strategic-plan technology discussion

Committee members at a meeting reviewed Goal 2 (Technology) of the strategic plan and discussed adding or refining AI and ChatGPT training for students and staff while flagging privacy and cybersecurity risks.

The discussion centered on item 7 of the plan, which proposes training on generative AI tools for both students and staff. "We really are in a good position with the Montana Digital Academy," one committee member (S3) said, and the same participant pointed to the state superintendent's office as a resource. Participants said the strategic plan should be specific enough to drive action but flexible enough to adapt as tools change.

Participants offered classroom and legal examples to explain why guidance is needed. One participant (S4) described a middle-school math teacher who used AI to generate a worksheet after finding a lesson presentation unsatisfactory. Another participant (S1) noted industry changes and privacy risks around some tools: "All the companies I'm working with, they're overly enamored with AI...they're aggressively collecting everything you put into them," S1 said, warning users to review privacy settings for products such as Copilot and other assistants.

The group also raised legal and procedural uncertainty around AI-enabled recording and automated note-taking. "There's uncharted legal territory about recording," S1 said, and participants noted that built-in meeting transcription or note-taking features can capture remarks from others even when an individual does not opt in. That risk, attendees said, is particularly acute for sensitive meetings; one participant (S4) said issues had arisen in IEP meetings when recordings or AI tools were used.

Beyond privacy, members pressed on cybersecurity and operational readiness. One committee member (S2) asked who would provide safety and cybersecurity protocols to teachers; participants pointed to the Montana Digital Academy and district administrators as likely resources and said administrators already run trainings they can share. The group also cited a practical example of risk: an earlier review of the district website exposed email addresses that may have contributed to a spike in spear-phishing attempts.

No formal motions or votes were recorded in the transcript. Participants agreed to pursue follow-up planning and to consider scheduling trainings and implementation steps in the coming months, with a suggestion to revisit the technology goal in April. The meeting closed after a routine check for additional business.

The transcript does not identify the governing body by an official name in the text; the record shows participants referring to "the board" and to the superintendent's report but does not include formal votes or adopted policy language.