Board renews Amira Learning contract; members flag parental concerns about AI chatbot features
Summary
The board approved a 2026–27 contract renewal with Amira Learning LLC and discussed parental concerns over the program’s AI-driven chat features; the superintendent said the district will share the vendor white paper and explore ways to inform parents and accommodate opt-outs.
The board approved a contract renewal (amendment 3 of 3) with Amira Learning LLC for the 2026–27 school year after staff described evidence of documented success with the program.
Director Harris and other members spoke in favor of the contract but flagged parental concerns over the product’s interactive AI chatbot avatars used in the program. “Amira uses AI chat bots that are cartoon avatars that speak to children,” a board member said, noting parental anxiety about screen time and AI. The superintendent responded that the district has a vendor white paper that can be shared with parents, that the interactive portion is part of the adaptive program, and that the district will look for ways to allow families to opt a child out of the chatbot portion while still supporting reading instruction through alternate methods.
The vote carried with no recorded no votes.
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