SCS Hopes to Manage AI

SCHOHARIE - Artificial intelligence -AI- is everywhere and is not going anywhere. If you want to hear Frank Sinatra sing a disco tune, you can. If you want artificial intelligence to design your company logo, you can. AI can help you write reports for school or business. Who knows what you will be able to do with AI in the future?

AI is here and Schoharie school officials understand that and want to be able to control and manage its use in the next few years.

SCS Superintendent David Blanchard told school board members last Thursday that the district has to determine the use of AI. The resources of AI can make teachers and staff more effective.

Artificial intelligence is here, whether we like it or not, he added. "We have to embrace it," he said.

Teachers and staff have already had some trainings and presentations on AI during their professional development at the beginning of the school year and will have more trainings throughout the school year, Mr. Blanchard said.

A big step is developing policies on the use of AI in the district both for staff and students. Mr. Blanchard. He has been researching AI policies from other school districts and will present board members with different policy options for both staff and students to consider in the next few months.

One option is not to embrace the use of AI, but that is unlikely, he told board members.

AI is part of the future, and people have to realize that, just like when calculators were introduced years ago, he added.

"AI has a role in education," Mr. Blanchard said. "We need to invest in it. We have to recognize that our students will have the chance to use it for a long time.

The Superintendent, administrators, and teachers will all be working on an AI policy for the district.