The School Board agreed AI is here to stay, and the district needs to be proactive in addressing it.
Determining how to handle artificial intelligence in the classroom will be an ongoing conversation in the school district this year.
The district needs to discuss AI policy because it “is not going away,” Superintendent Stu Moeckel said during Thursday night’s School Board meeting.
“We can either learn how to use it, or we can fall behind,” Moeckel said. “I don’t think we’re going to be able to ignore it.”
In his presentation to the board, Moeckel said it is important for the district to teach students how to use AI responsibly. He also said it is important that teachers know how AI can be used as a resource in their classrooms.
Moeckel wants to implement safe district-approved AI tools for teachers and students. He said some teachers are trying out an AI software called MagicSchool to help with their classes.
The board discussed forming an AI Advisory Committee for the district. Moeckel said he wants to form the committee during the board’s September and October meetings.
Board member Claire Harding emphasized the importance of community involvement and feedback.
“I think this is a proactive move to try to figure out how Eudora feels about it and what our teachers feel about it and our community,” Harding said.
Moeckel said he would like to have a policy in place by next year.
Board member Joe Hurla said he would like to see more guidelines around AI, and what is and is not prohibited with students. Board members also discussed plagiarism and how they might define it when it comes to AI.
Board member Heather Whalen said the district’s move to monitor AI and get ahead of it “is a really good first step.”
In other business, the board approved the 2025-26 preliminary budget. Moeckel said the district expects to slightly increase the mill rate from 69.20 to 69.98.
Moeckel said the rate is based on the student headcount from last year, but the budget is also partly built on the fact that fewer students are coming into the school district than are graduating. Last year, Eudora had 138 graduates in the Class of 2025. Moeckel said the district is bringing in 92 kindergarteners this year.
“Our current reality is that our funding is based on student headcount,” Moeckel said. “So this budget is maxed out as best it can.”
He said that while Eudora has had more high schoolers than ever before, the younger grades have much lower enrollment numbers.
“In the next four years, you could see us move from a 1,700, 1,600 school to very quickly a 1,200-student school,” Moeckel said. “And that has repercussions for funding, as well as the staffing that’s needed.”
The proposed budget is $14.2 million. Last year, the district spent $13.5 million. Moeckel said the budget increased because the state Legislature is giving the district more money per student. He said it did not increase because of enrollment.
Moeckel said about three-fourths of the budget is to pay employees. He said the other quarter is used for projects that align with the district’s strategic plan and include facility maintenance, purchasing classroom supplies and loan payments.
The budget hearing is set for 6:10 p.m. Sept. 11 at the district office.
The School Board also highlighted the successes of the Cardinal Clays trapshooting team at the meeting.
Senior Kent Lindsay told the board that Eudora sent six shooters to the national competition this summer.
In other business, the board approved hiring a new high school baseball coach, Landon Harper. It also approved the hiring of new assistant volleyball, football and basketball coaches.
Board member Eric Votaw asked for further discussion on the hiring of these assistant coaches. He wanted to clarify the new one-year positions are being funded through private donations and are one-time hirings. The board agreed to have more transparency and protocol on hirings like this in the future.
The board also highlighted the Eudora Schools Foundation’s school supply shopping event, which provided free school supplies, food, haircuts and vaccinations to attendees. Board member Kelley Woods said 300 people attended.
Reach reporter Bella Waters at [email protected].