Lakewood High School hosted a public meeting Tuesday, Oct. 14, to inform parents about the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in schools and its increasing integration into society. The event was presented by Director of Teaching and Learning Steven Ast and Director of Information Technology Brent Kallay.
The presentation outlined plans for the practical application of AI in schools, alongside discussions concerning potential dangers and future policy plans regarding AI. The main topic addressed was generative AI — AI systems that process available data when given a prompt and subsequently generate a response that meets the request’s criteria.
Officials emphasized that the plan is not to remove AI from the learning environment. Generative AI is intended to be a tool used in conjunction with traditional learning systems in schools, though some systems might adapt to incorporate AI more seamlessly into classroom instruction.
For students and the general public, AI is easily accessible and can assist with classwork. Specific examples referenced during the presentation included ChatGPT, Gemini, and the AI integrated into Snapchat.
Future Policy and Phone Ban Connection
The discussion also touched upon the difficulties in creating a long-term plan for AI, given its constant evolution and limited historical references in education. Ast noted the difficulty facing educators: “I don’t think anyone right now, especially from an educator standpoint, feels confident that they know everything or they’re moving in the right direction.”
Kallay suggested there may be a connection between a planned cell phone ban, set to take effect Jan. 1, 2026, and an expected increase in AI usage on school computers. “So post Jan. 1, we may see an uptick in that because cell phones are away,” Kallay said. “Now we have proper analytics of how many people are using generative AI websites on a regular basis, day to day, week to week.”
Community and Educator Feedback
Although only about 15 people attended the event, the parents who were present were highly engaged, taking notes and asking questions of Ast and Kallay.
Parent and Lakewood High School teacher Gray Cooper offered his views, expressing a “healthy skepticism of AI usage. I have some concerns. I thought the presentation was informative.” Cooper added, “I felt like I had a better understanding of the philosophy that’s going to be guiding our AI policies. And then I learned some stuff, like the nuts-and-bolts stuff about how…we have to have the policy because there’s a law that we will have a policy.”
Feedback from parents plays a key role in shaping AI policy, particularly as officials work on a plan that will likely require changes over time. Ast acknowledged that discussions following the presentation immediately offered new insights.
“I think, oftentimes, the questions that come up or hearing somebody else’s point of view helps extend my thinking,” Ast said. “So I can tell you that there [were] a couple situations that came up in a conversation afterward that are going to change conversations I have with principals about how we better inform parents,” said Ast.
As both a parent and a Lakewood High School educator, Cooper provided a dual perspective on how AI may influence the classroom. He noted his surprise at his students’ interactions with AI.
“I work with mostly seniors. I’ve been really surprised. I’ve done a couple of what I like to call mini-sermons. The word ‘sermon’ is the wrong one to use here, but it’s like I’m going to yell at the sky for a minute and tell my students to listen because I think it’s important. Talking about how AI doesn’t have a soul or a unique point of view—that’s what my students have. And that is magic. I want to hear that from my students,” Cooper said.
As the Lakewood City School District continues with its integration of AI, ongoing dialogue and community input will be vital to ensuring its policies foster technological progress while nurturing the unique perspectives and “magic” only Lakewood’s students can bring.
