Westonka board approves district AI coordinator, advances AI procedure work

The Westonka Public School District board on a voice vote approved adding a district AI coordinator position and advanced policy changes intended to govern use of artificial intelligence in district classrooms and operations.

The action followed a presentation from Mark, who outlined an April 29 “AI release day” that produced a draft procedural manual and an implementation plan for the 2026–27 school year. Mark said the work is organized around three pillars — safety and security, ethical decision-making, and continuous learning — and an H–AIH framework emphasizing "human inquiry," AI as a "thought partner," and "human empowerment." He told the board, "There's the deeper thinking, the critical thinking, the problem solving." (Mark, Teaching & Learning report.)

Why it matters: the position and procedures are intended to centralize AI tool vetting, staff training and parent communications before broad classroom rollout. Mark said the district plans an initial vetted list of AI tools, focused staff training at August workshop week and a procedural manual ready to implement. The board approved the request to add a district AI coordinator (action 8D) during the meeting.

Details from the presentation: the district plans to complete a procedural manual (version one) and to require an implementation plan at the building level. Mark said the AI coordinator will "work hand in hand with me" to manage training, policy, vetting and anticipatory planning for future AI developments. He also said the district will emphasize student-data privacy and ethical use in communications to parents and staff. The transcript records that the board moved and approved the addition of the AI coordinator position; no roll-call vote totals were read aloud.

Next steps: the board advanced related policy changes (first reading of Policy 1000 and Policy 4150 was approved earlier in the meeting) and the administration said a full AI policy and the procedural manual will be brought forward for board consideration ahead of the 2026–27 school year.