LTUSD Community Conversation wrap-up - State of the District planned for March

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The community once again had an opportunity to engage with the leadership of Lake Tahoe Unified School District (LTUSD) at the recent LTUSD Community Conversation. About 20 community members joined LTUSD staff, board members, and administrators for the meeting on January 16 and engaged in a discussion about the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) within LTUSD.

The discussion was centered around a 2023 article by H. Alix Gallagher and Benjamin W. Cottingham titled "The Urgent Need to Update District Policies on Student Use of Artificial Intelligence in Education," published in Policy Analysis for California Education (PACE).

Along with the conversation around the article, there was a panel discussion with experts that included Sean Colt, LTUSD director of technology; Aaron Lovejoy, LTUSD teacher/content area specialist; Hannah Kelso, LTUSD associate student body president/student board representative; and Peter Schow, S & P Global data scientist.

LTUSD Superintendent Dr. Todd Cutler emphasized the urgency of formulating policies regarding AI in teaching and learning, addressing critical questions such as what students can and cannot do with AI, and providing guidance to staff on AI utilization. The LTUSD Director of Multilingual Learner Equity Karen Goldberg stressed the importance of teaching students appropriate AI usage, while LTUSD student board representative, Rose Friedrich, shared her positive experience using AI for event planning. It was acknowledged that some teachers are hesitant to allow students to use AI, prompting Mr. Colt to emphasize the role of teachers in guiding students on responsible AI use.

Several participants highlighted existing positive outcomes of incorporating AI in schools, ranging from aiding students with dyslexia to supporting organizational tasks. Concerns were raised, including the appropriate age to introduce AI in the classroom, the need for different policies based on age groups, and potential disruptions to the traditional teacher-student relationship.

Acknowledging AI as an integral part of modern life, participants agreed on the necessity for the District to teach ethical AI use. One participant compared restricting AI use for students to asking someone to start a fire with primitive tools when they have a lighter in their pocket. Hannah Kelso shared her experience using an AI fact checker, expressing concerns about potential accusations of AI use in student work.

Outlined next steps included implementing extensive professional development on AI, addressing ethical considerations, establishing clear policies, and forming a staff committee to report on AI progress in the next Community Conversation. The goal is to ensure effective integration and responsible use of AI in LTUSD by the beginning of the 2024/25 school year, emphasizing the need for specific policies aligned with the curriculum and rejecting a blanket ban on student AI use.

The South Lake Tahoe community is invited to join Cutler for the next Community Conversation when he leads the State of the District address on Wednesday, March 20, 2024, from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the South Tahoe High Student Union. Bring your thoughts and ideas. Refreshments and snacks will be provided. Childcare will be provided for elementary-age children.