District shows device‑usage data, plans parent survey and optional Chromebook controls next year

District technology staff presented device‑usage data and explained how the figures will inform the district technology plan while cautioning that minutes alone cannot tell whether students were engaged in productive learning.

"Technology should be reliable, seamless and invisible, useful and easy to use," said Sean Bever, director of IT, describing a technology ethos that seeks a balance between digital tools and traditional classroom practices. Bever said the district can produce 90‑day and six‑month reports showing average daily minutes and spikes (notably in middle school) and can break usage down to specific apps when students are logged in to district accounts.

Presenters cited several research sources to show both benefit and risk: a cited OECD international study associating moderate tech use with improved outcomes, a National Library of Medicine review noting cognitive and social benefits with guided use, a study titled "The Pen Is Mightier Than the Keyboard" linking laptop use with shallower processing, and a 2017 study finding that merely having a phone nearby reduces working memory.

Sher Howard, an assistant principal, summarized CDC data presented at the meeting: "about half of teenagers ages 12 through 17 have four hours or more of daily screen time," and staff said one in four teens with four or more hours reported anxiety or depression symptoms in the prior two weeks (as cited in the source they displayed).

Staff outlined data and feedback steps: student and staff surveys are already underway (some slides showed more than a thousand responses for presented surveys), a parent/guardian tech survey link will be distributed via email and SMS, and the district will combine those responses with usage metrics to guide policy. The district also plans to offer optional family controls in 2026–27 that would let parents manage district‑issued Chromebooks at home, including scheduling and content restrictions.

Speakers emphasized the limits of technical monitoring: minutes logged do not reveal whether work was productive or distracted, and students can bypass filters using proxy sites or guest networks. A staff presenter advised parents on built‑in tools such as Apple Screen Time and Google Family Link and noted carrier and router parental control options.

On AI, staff said they photographed table notes and used AI tools to generate summaries and infographics to accelerate follow‑up, but stressed the need for human review of AI outputs for accuracy.

Next step: district will post the presentation and AI‑assisted summaries and will use combined survey and device data to recommend changes in the upcoming tech plan.