Kearney Public Schools Administration Office, (Brian Neben, Central Nebraska Today)
KEARNEY — The Kearney Public Schools Board of Education approved an artificial intelligence policy on final reading during their meeting on the evening of Monday, April 8.
The policy has been approved on first reading and reviewed by the board members during their March meeting.
During that meeting, Superintendent Jason Mundorf stated that, “we won’t face a more impactful issue in education in the next decade.”
He noted that AI is already being employed in daily life in both business and education.
Mundorf said the board discussed AI at their winter retreat, seeking to have a policy that would put the right foot forward on forming an AI framework for the district.
The board members were of the opinion that the decisions regarding AI be put in the hands of the teachers who could make decisions on an individual basis.
Several board members noted that they use AI in their professions and stated while they want to ensure AI is not abused by students, they are also prepared to use it when they enter the workforce themselves.
The policy read in part, “Kearney Public Schools acknowledges that artificial intelligence continues to emerge as a resource that may assist students with future technology and responsible choices about real-time data gathering. However, artificial intelligence also poses challenges to delineate the responsible use of artificial intelligence with perils of student plagiarism, confidentiality, intellectual property infringement and the like.”
The policy continues, “The Board of Education delegates the authority to classroom teachers to decide whether to permit or deny the use of artificial intelligence in any class, project, exam, essay or other assignment from the classroom teacher.”
“A student who, without prior authorization or permission from the classroom teacher, uses artificial intelligence to assist with any class, project, exam, essay or other assignment may be subject to disciplinary measures, including the Board’s plagiarism policy and academic dishonesty rules,” the policy concludes.
The board approved the policy on second and final reading.
During the recognitions, Head Coach Nate Garringer and the KHS eSports Team were acknowledged for winning the 2024 state championship title at York University on Feb. 3, 2024.
Garringer said this was not the first time the team was state champions, and this is the fifth trophy the team has earned.
Also recognized was Art Teacher Katrina Olmstead and KHS Students Kally Ostermeyer and Shayne Brown for their Selection to Participate in the 27th Annual National K-12 Ceramic Exhibition.
Kally Ostermeyer, for her piece called “Rustic” and Shayne Brown, for her piece called “Little Sable Point”, were selected for participation in the 27th Annual National K-12 Ceramic Exhibition in Richmond, Va., March 20-22, 2024. Kally was awarded the Bailey Pottery Equipment Award at the conclusion of the event.
There were more recognitions in the art department, including Art Teachers Natasha Hahn, Katrina Olmstead, and Charlotte Dvorak, and KHS Students, Abbie Bausch, Vivianne Beck, Edith Hall, Quinn Peralta Trejo, Evangelina Wilterding, and Myka Otten, as State Scholastic Art Award Winners and National Qualifiers.
There were two presentations to the board, one from the Buffalo County Youth Advisory Board regarding Youth Mental Health resources and coordination.
Buffalo County Community Partners Youth Intern Genesis Acosta-Garcia appeared before the board and said the members of the advisory board, comprised of Buffalo County students, had been advocating for LB 929 and even presented to Senator John Lowe in Lincoln.
A video presentation from the students was shown, as their members were attending different school board meetings across the county.
Members of the Hanny Arram Center also appeared with a presentation about their Real World Academy.
The academy was aimed at teaching everyday skills a person might need and to show all the different types of career paths available in the local area.
There were different themes and matched up with different businesses or organizations. For instance, Garret Tire and Midway taught car maintenance, construction was taught by BD Construction and the City of Kearney and safe driving was instructed by the Nebraska State Patrol and the Nebraska Safety Center.
There were 35 students involved in the academy, and the staff said their favorite part of the academy was the roll over simulator and impairment goggles provided by the Nebraska State Patrol. It was also noted the students learned a great deal from their stop at the Kearney Volunteer Fire Department.
Superintendent Mundorf gave an update on KPS library book selection, deselection, and reconsideration process.
Mundorf said several books on the library shelves have been challenged in the past and the decision was made by the district to turn the decision to the media specialist.
He said the specialists have come up with a multi-faceted protocol that includes guidelines for selection, deselection and reconsideration of books.
If there is a disputed book, it goes to review by the media specialists, then to a group of media specialists and then, if necessary, the superintendent.
During the public comments, there were three individuals who appeared and alleged that there are books with inappropriate or sexual content in KPS libraries and claimed these are harmful to children.
During the regular agenda, the board approved a renovation of the common space at Kenwood Elementary for a cost of $124,890.
The purchase of two passenger vans to be added to the KPS transportation fleet. The purchase of the vans from Platte Valley Auto in the amount of $111,230 was approved.
The board also approved a revised policy for staff travel and reimbursement on first reading. The policy will be considered for approval on second and final reading in May.
During the personnel section, the following resignations and retirements were approved, Hallie Snyder, art teacher at Kenwood and Glenwood Elementary Schools; Ashley Mostek, 4th grade teacher at Meadowlark Elementary School; Amber McKay, science teacher at Kearney High School; Tennille Allison, assistant principal at Kearney High School; Keaton Klimek, math teacher at Kearney High School; Emily Ripp, speech-language pathologist at Kearney High School; Kinzy Dibbern, preschool teacher at Bright Futures Preschool; Terah Maaske, 1st grade teacher at Northeast Elementary School; Jacqueline Arens, school psychologist at Kearney High School; Sara DeMers, 3rd grade teacher at Emerson Elementary School; and Erin Willrich, 3rd grade teacher at Meadowlark Elementary School, effective the end of the 2023-2024 school year. Accept with regret, the retirement resignation of Mary Dubas, 1st grade teacher at Meadowlark Elementary School, effective the end of the 2023-2024 school year.
The following hirings were also approved, Nicole Lopez, 1st grade teacher at Northeast Elementary School; Rebekah Andersen, 1st grade teacher at Meadowlark Elementary School; Shannon Blaschko, 4th grade teacher at Meadowlark Elementary School; Megan Spicka, 3rd grade teacher at Emerson Elementary School; Halle Nachtigal, kindergarten teacher at Emerson Elementary School; Sydney Weiler, 8th grade science teacher at Horizon Middle School; Jennifer Meinecke, special education teacher at Kenwood Elementary School; Amy Schroder, ELL teacher at Northeast Elementary School; Lydia Behnk, business/computer teacher at Horizon Middle School; Julian Beltran-Dorado, FTE art teacher at Kenwood and Glenwood Elementary Schools; Zachary Werner, ELA/reading teacher at Kearney High School; and Jordan Lawn, preschool teacher at Bright Futures Preschool, for the 2024-2025 school year.
The following employment for administrative staff was also approved, Haley Mentzer as assistant principal at Kearney High School, Jeff Schwartz as director of student services and safety at Kearney Public Schools, and Chelsey Jacobitz, as assistant principal for college and career readiness at Kearney High School.
