PVPUSD AI task force urges teacher training, accountability tools and guidance policy

District staff and volunteer teachers presented an AI task force update on April 24 that proposed a phased approach to artificial intelligence in classrooms: teacher professional development, updated academic honesty rules and pilot accountability tools.

Becky Egan, a teacher on the committee, and Brent Kuykendahl, who led the task force, said the group focused first on high school needs and recommended training two AI teacher leads (starting with a summer academy), piloting Turnitin’s AI‑detection suite and exploring districtwide accountability systems such as GoGuardian or other lockdown browsers for grades 4–12. “It would start in July and it would also entail some district leads... It’s a year‑long program that addresses all the tenets of AI from the community level to the student,” Egan said.

The task force proposed the board accept a district AI guidance document (exhibit B) and referred suggested revisions to AR 5131.9 (academic honesty) to the policy committee; any policy changes would later return to the board. Staff emphasized that no classroom AI tools are approved yet and that any student pilots would require pilot approval, privacy vetting and age‑appropriate guardrails.

Trustees asked for parent and staff outreach and suggested including parents in initial informational sessions. Student board members and other trustees described AI as both a potential instructional tool and a risk for academic integrity if misused; one student said AI is “another resource” and urged teaching students how to use it responsibly.

No formal action was requested; staff said they aim to return with a recommendation to the board by December 2024 and that a consultant list and potential keynote speaker for August PD were being considered.