Public commenter urges Polk schools to act on AI policy, says district lags peers
April 29, 2026 | Polk, School Districts, Florida
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John Shear, a local technology executive and parent, used the public comment period at the April 28 Polk County School Board meeting to urge the district to adopt policies on artificial intelligence (AI) in schools.
Shear said Polk County — which he described as the state’s eighth‑largest district — has not yet implemented districtwide AI guidance and he urged trustees to prioritize safety for students and staff while developing policy and implementation plans.
"Students in every level in Polk County are already using ChatGPT, Google Gemini, AI writing tools, and image generators today," Shear said. "Polk County had not even started. I’m here to hopefully let you know that I can help you get to where you need to get with artificial intelligence in Polk County Schools. Safety is first." He also cited broad figures — "116,000 Polk County students" and "14,000 educators" — to underline the scale of potential impact.
The chair thanked Shear for his remarks; trustees did not debate or take immediate action during the meeting. The district has scheduled its next work session and meeting for May 5, 2026, which provides an early opportunity for staff or trustees to bring forward AI policy proposals or updates.
Shear offered to assist the district with planning and emphasized protections for children and faculty should guide policy choices.
Shear said Polk County — which he described as the state’s eighth‑largest district — has not yet implemented districtwide AI guidance and he urged trustees to prioritize safety for students and staff while developing policy and implementation plans.
"Students in every level in Polk County are already using ChatGPT, Google Gemini, AI writing tools, and image generators today," Shear said. "Polk County had not even started. I’m here to hopefully let you know that I can help you get to where you need to get with artificial intelligence in Polk County Schools. Safety is first." He also cited broad figures — "116,000 Polk County students" and "14,000 educators" — to underline the scale of potential impact.
The chair thanked Shear for his remarks; trustees did not debate or take immediate action during the meeting. The district has scheduled its next work session and meeting for May 5, 2026, which provides an early opportunity for staff or trustees to bring forward AI policy proposals or updates.
Shear offered to assist the district with planning and emphasized protections for children and faculty should guide policy choices.
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