Bristol Tenn. BOE considers policies based on new laws

BRISTOL, Tenn. (WJHL) – The Bristol, Tennessee School Board met Monday to discuss a list of policies that could go into place.

The first deals with artificial intelligence, or AI, in the classroom. According to Director of Schools Dr. Annette Tudor, this is a topic they have seen regularly in schools, which led to a conversation about allowing it in school.

“In recent years and particularly, I would say, in the last two years,” Tudor said. “Our teachers have started talking about the use of artificial intelligence or do we ban it entirely? How do we educate students, particularly high school students who have access to it readily?”

While the policy doesn’t completely restrict the use of AI, it does set guidelines for its use in the classroom.

“We are just making sure that our students are prepared and know how to vet those sources and use it resourcefully, but appropriately,” Tudor said.

Policy guidelines include instruction for students about when, where, and how to use AI.

Another policy discussed at the meeting focused on library books. In recent years, Tennessee has passed several laws regarding what books can be on library shelves. Tudor said they are setting the framework for how to regulate what books are available to students.

“Any books that are included in our library or classroom teacher’s library can’t have particular concepts as detailed in that policy,” Tudor said.

This policy also includes a complaint process, which Tudor said is already in place.

“[The policy] allows parents to say, ‘I disagree that this should be in your classrooms, and so I want to file a complaint,'” Tudor said. “And there’s a process for that. We’ve also had a process that should anyone be concerned about a particular title, we had a process in place, we have for many years.”

The policies need to pass on two readings before being put into place. The second readings will take place at the board meeting in August.

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