Milan Area Schools is developing an approach to artificial intelligence that recognizes both its usefulness and its risks while keeping student thinking and human relationships at the center of learning.
Assistant Superintendent Jennifer Bookout presented three draft guidance documents to the Board of Education on July 8, with separate versions for students, staff and families.
Although written for different audiences, the documents share several principles, including protecting student privacy, maintaining academic integrity and using AI to enhance learning rather than replace it.
“AI is a supplement, but it’s never going to replace the relationships that are at the heart of teaching and learning,” Bookout said.
The documents grew out of a year of research and discussion by the district’s AI task force, which gathered feedback from staff and students.
Bookout said AI can be useful, but its convenience can also tempt students to let the technology do the thinking for them.
The district also wants to leave room for students who do not want to use AI. Bookout said task force members were surprised by how many students expressed strong objections to the technology.
“If they have done the research and feel strongly about that, we don’t want to compel them or force them to do something that they feel is not the right choice for them,” she said.
The district plans to begin sharing the documents with students, staff and families this fall. Older students may work directly with the student version, while conversations with younger students would be adapted in age-appropriate ways.
The board’s discussion showed the difficulty of creating clear rules for technology already built into many of the programs students and staff use every day.
Bookout said the district previously tried blocking AI tools, but doing so also disrupted access to curriculum programs because AI features were embedded in them.
Board members also discussed monitoring on school devices. District officials said prompts entered into AI platforms may be visible through the district’s monitoring systems and can generate alerts, much like inappropriate internet searches.
Board Vice President Carrie K-Gutierrez praised the work while encouraging the district to be careful about its language. She suggested consistently referring to AI as “it,” rather than “they,” to avoid personifying the technology.
K-Gutierrez said the wording should reinforce that AI is a tool, one that can be helpful in some situations and harmful in others.
Board member Michelle Heikka noted that some legitimate educational tools use AI to create quizzes, study materials and other classroom resources.
Heikka said overly broad language telling students and staff not to copy and paste could leave students or teachers unsure whether appropriate uses violate the guidelines. Bookout agreed the wording could be clarified.
Rather than treating AI as simply good or bad, district leaders focused on when it may support learning, when it may interfere with critical thinking and why appropriate use may depend on the assignment.
The work is not finished. The AI task force plans to continue developing staff training and student resources.
“We know that these need to be very flexible,” Bookout said. “We need to be able to adjust as new things become available.”
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