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Roberts School Board adopts new policies on AI, work-based learning, student safety and background checks
Summary
Trustees adopted a package of new and revised policies required by state law or recommended by auditors, including an AI integration policy that references Montana pupil privacy rules and a fingerprint-based background check policy for anyone with unsupervised student contact.
At its Jan. 21, 2026 meeting the Roberts School District No. 5 Board of Trustees unanimously adopted a set of new and revised policies the superintendent said were intended to meet new legislative mandates and auditor recommendations.
"The following are all new policies to meet new legislative mandates," Superintendent Dan Grabowska told the board before listing Policy 2600 (Work Based Learning), Policy 2700 (AI Integration in Education), Policy 3665 (Student Safety), Policy 5122 (Fingerprints and Criminal Background Investigations), Policy 5321-P(1) (Leaves of Absence—Conditions for Use of Leave) and Policy 5334-P(1) (Vacations). He also noted Policy 8210 (Financial Management) is required by the Office of Public Instruction and Policy 8550 (Cyber Incident Response) is recommended by auditors. Brad Norman moved to adopt the policies; Debbie Hill seconded and the motions carried unanimously.
The adopted AI policy requires responsible, ethical and equitable use of artificial intelligence in district instruction and administration; it references the Montana Pupil Online Personal Information Protection Act (MPOIPA) and codifies vendor and data-security requirements including prohibitions on use of student data for targeted advertising and requirements for encryption and parental consent in limited cases. The Work Based Learning policy clarifies credit, supervision and employer coordination for on-the-job student placements and references state law governing credit for work-based partnerships. The student-safety and fingerprint policies require fingerprint-based national criminal history background checks for any person who will have unsupervised contact with students, consistent with the district’s safety procedures and state statutes cited in the policy attachments.
The full text of each adopted policy appears in the meeting materials. The board did not record any amendments to the package during the meeting.
