Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the School Safety topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Board members report NSBA conference takeaways: safety, attendance strategies and AI concerns
Summary
Attendees at the National School Boards Association conference urged renewed focus on student safety (periodic background checks), strategies to reduce chronic absenteeism (student‑led conferences, social‑worker triage) and early planning for AI policy; the board discussed staffing and next steps.
A board member who attended the National School Boards Association conference summarized key takeaways for the Pojoaque Valley board: heightened attention to student safety and background‑check processes, and multiple approaches to reduce chronic absences.
"They even brought up the idea of possibly refingerprinting or having criminal backgrounds done with employees maybe every 3 to 5 years," the member said, noting national conversations about predators and stronger HR follow‑up. Another attendee said the conference highlighted student‑led parent conferences and using social workers for home‑visit triage to identify barriers to attendance.
Members also discussed artificial intelligence in schools. Several board members stressed the need to train staff before broader student use; others pushed for student participation in planning, arguing students may already be more familiar with AI tools. One board member said the district has an internal AI committee working on a plan, and that staff training is a first step before formal student implementation.
The board asked administration to follow up on wraparound background‑check programs and to return with options for strengthening HR checks and attendance supports. No formal policy changes were voted during the meeting; discussion items will inform future agenda planning.
