BOE looks at impact of AI in the classroom
The Putnam County Board of Education met on Jan. 22 to hear a presentation and vote on the new district calendar and personnel changes.
Becky Nipper started off the meeting by presenting an assessment of the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) in the classroom.
Her representation looked at projections of the harm and good that AI could cause as it advances and what the district is doing to prepare for these potential outcomes.
Nipper’s presentation focused primarily on generative AI, which presently is the most popular form of the technology.
Discussions of the ethics associated with AI and how teachers can teach students to use the tool safely and effectively were discussed, though plans are in continuous change and development on how the district will continue to handle the issue.
Superintendent Eric Arena then presented the new district calendar for the 2024-25 year. The calendar was created by the various Student Governance Associations and admins from all the schools in the district. The board unanimously approved the calendar.
Moving into personnel, the board went into executive session and upon returning announced that Arena would be retiring from his position as superintendent in May.
The board approved his request to retire and voted to approve Assistant Superintendent Derick Austin as the superintendent, effective in June.
The next board meeting will be Feb. 12 at 6 p.m.