Clearview Regional High School District Board of Education held its latest regular meeting on August 27. As the last meeting ahead of the new school year, many updates, reports and changes were discussed.
One of the biggest conversations surrounded the passing of new curriculum and instruction updates. One of the 12 points were about implementing AI programming.
The district’s chief academic officer, Keith Brook, shared that the district created a SchoolAI Integration Team during the last week of August. The team is made up of two teachers from the middle school and three teachers from the high school. Brook said there would be breakout sessions for faculty on the second day of teacher in service to provide training regarding AI use, information and how to use SchoolAI.
SchoolAI is an AI software that is designed to assist K-12 teachers in administrative tasks, creating interactive workspaces and monitoring student activity in progress, among other things, according to the SchoolAI website. Ultimately, the website suggests it is intended to assist teachers with their work, not do it for them.
While this is an AI tool, Brook said SchoolAI is compliant with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). This means the school district owns the data from its students, and the data will remain private.
Additionally, Brook said SchoolAI will not allow students access to AI chatbots or similar services.
“What we are looking to do is (find a) balance really,” he said. “I think nationally…there’s a lot of parents and school districts looking at closing laptops more (and using) more paper and pencil. The last thing we want to do is replace independent thought, the academic struggle, collaboration and creativity.”
Brook said the district is first working with the teachers who already have experience working with SchoolAI or who want to participate. The district is hoping the teachers will begin to become more comfortable and proficient with the program before they begin using it with their students in the second phase roll out after October.
“It doesn’t simply give answers. It’s sort of like an assist,” Brook said. “It will not be a mandate that all teachers use it, but what it can do for teachers is incredible, and ultimately for students too.”
Brook said more information regarding SchoolAI can be shared. He even suggested giving a presentation on the program at this month’s board of education meeting on September 17, though it is not confirmed yet if this presentation will occur.
While some members of the board had questions and concerns about AI use — as many parents and teachers in the district, state and county also do — there was an understanding that it cannot be avoided.
“Even if the teachers don’t use AI, they have to be aware that the kids will use it and how they’re going to use it for homework,” board member Fenu Cherian said. “So teachers do need to be prepared.”
Clearview Regional School District discussed the districts new SchoolAI Integration Team at the August 27 Board of Education meeting.
