Derby board discusses AI framework and a new religious‑objection opt‑out policy after AG guidance

The Derby Board reviewed two sets of policy work on Nov. 24: a high‑level framework for artificial intelligence and a revised policy (IKDA) addressing parental notification and religious objections to classroom material.

Heather Bohati, superintendent, said the policy committee has been working on the IKDA policy and that the district received Attorney General guidance Nov. 10 addressing the issue. "This policy looks at parent rights and guides for their ability ... requesting schools to notify families if there's potentially conflicting activities and allowing opt out processes," Bohati said.

Dennis Ellich, director of technology, introduced three AI‑related policies as a framework to define where and how the district will use AI. "The AI policy or policies as they are currently presented are a general framework, very high level ... to define those general parameters that say, here's what it should be used for, here's what it shouldn't be used for," Ellich said. He described plans for an inventory of authorized AI tools and the district’s preference for managed, district‑level accounts that allow oversight of prompts and usage.

Board members raised implementation concerns. One member said the IKDA package felt rushed and asked for more time for socialization with administrators and teachers; another said the policy follows the Supreme Court’s direction and the AG guidance and defended the committee’s timeline. Members asked legal to clarify whether principals should retain discretion to deny opt‑out requests and how classroom libraries would be handled. Bohati said district staff will run questions back through legal counsel and KASB and return with recommended edits.

No final vote was taken on either AI policy set or IKDA during this meeting; staff will return with clarifications or edits based on legal advice.