Wallingford‑Swarthmore to tighten AI tools and limit device use during middle‑school indoor recess
May 28, 2026 | Wallingford-Swarthmore SD, School Districts, Pennsylvania
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The Wallingford‑Swarthmore School District announced several near‑term limits on classroom technology and additional steps to guide future use during the May 28 board meeting.
Superintendent Dr. Johnston said district IT staff have already restricted Google Lens AI mode within the district Chrome platform and that the policy committee adopted an administrative regulation (AIAR) to govern staff training and acceptable AI use. "We have restricted AI mode in Google Lens," he said, and described the AIAR as a set of guardrails for staff rather than an open‑ended launch into AI tools.
Dr. Johnston also announced that, beginning next school year, the district will eliminate the use of technology during middle‑school indoor recess (with a narrow exception considered for students who must use recess time for project work). He said the district will continue vetting and reducing the overall number of classroom applications, expand monitoring tools (GoGuardian; exploring LightSpeed), and pursue further technical steps to remove AI overview search features where possible.
The administration committed to additional engagement and communication: a staff survey this summer to collect educator feedback, formation of an instructional‑technology advisory council (to be led by Kate Paquette) that will include teachers, administrators and families, and a family‑facing guidance document to be published no later than the start of the next school year.
Parents and community members used the public‑comment period to press the board for broader limits on screens. Rima Bishara, who said she lives on Todt Hill Road, urged the district to "move forward and make decisions based on how we want the future to look," and asked the board to reduce K–12 screens. Pediatrician and parent Erin Flynn told the board she sees "how impactful the school environment is for mental health" and urged face‑to‑face interactions and reduced classroom device use. Alex Becker, a Rose Valley resident, urged prioritizing print materials for reading comprehension and retention. Rachel Cox described a parent experience of limited ability to help her son prepare for a Spanish test when the material existed only on a Chromebook rather than in a printable unit.
Dr. Johnston said the advisory council will examine harder issues—amount of screen time, use of YouTube and other platforms, and recommended changes—and that some adjustments will require additional staff training and time to implement. He also emphasized continuing professional development and staff engagement as the administration finalizes any policy changes.
What’s next: staff input this summer, advisory‑council work next school year, and family guidance distributed by August ahead of the new school year.
Superintendent Dr. Johnston said district IT staff have already restricted Google Lens AI mode within the district Chrome platform and that the policy committee adopted an administrative regulation (AIAR) to govern staff training and acceptable AI use. "We have restricted AI mode in Google Lens," he said, and described the AIAR as a set of guardrails for staff rather than an open‑ended launch into AI tools.
Dr. Johnston also announced that, beginning next school year, the district will eliminate the use of technology during middle‑school indoor recess (with a narrow exception considered for students who must use recess time for project work). He said the district will continue vetting and reducing the overall number of classroom applications, expand monitoring tools (GoGuardian; exploring LightSpeed), and pursue further technical steps to remove AI overview search features where possible.
The administration committed to additional engagement and communication: a staff survey this summer to collect educator feedback, formation of an instructional‑technology advisory council (to be led by Kate Paquette) that will include teachers, administrators and families, and a family‑facing guidance document to be published no later than the start of the next school year.
Parents and community members used the public‑comment period to press the board for broader limits on screens. Rima Bishara, who said she lives on Todt Hill Road, urged the district to "move forward and make decisions based on how we want the future to look," and asked the board to reduce K–12 screens. Pediatrician and parent Erin Flynn told the board she sees "how impactful the school environment is for mental health" and urged face‑to‑face interactions and reduced classroom device use. Alex Becker, a Rose Valley resident, urged prioritizing print materials for reading comprehension and retention. Rachel Cox described a parent experience of limited ability to help her son prepare for a Spanish test when the material existed only on a Chromebook rather than in a printable unit.
Dr. Johnston said the advisory council will examine harder issues—amount of screen time, use of YouTube and other platforms, and recommended changes—and that some adjustments will require additional staff training and time to implement. He also emphasized continuing professional development and staff engagement as the administration finalizes any policy changes.
What’s next: staff input this summer, advisory‑council work next school year, and family guidance distributed by August ahead of the new school year.
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