Washington County plans AI symposium, board signals need to refine AI policy and classroom guidance

Washington County Public Schools staff told the board the division is sponsoring an artificial-intelligence symposium that has drawn more than 200 registrants and will inform revisions to the district's recently adopted AI policy.

"We adopted a policy last month. We have already had some conversations. We need to make some adjustments because the artificial intelligence is is just growing so fast," Superintendent Dr. Perrigan said as he introduced the symposium and the need to refine policy and implementation guidance.

Board members and a student representative discussed practical classroom concerns, including plagiarism and how to teach students appropriate uses of AI. A student representative told the board, "I think it would be most helpful for middle school students because they're getting at that time where a lot more technology and stuff," urging the division to begin instruction at the middle-school level.

Board members said staff will return with examples and a "best-practices" template that could be used by teachers and, under superintendent discretion, appended to policy as an implementation form without changing the high-level policy itself. Staff said they expect to present recommended policy changes after the symposium and that some items may be ready as early as December or January.