Screen Time & Artificial Intelligence at GUFS

Dear Garrison School Community,

Over the past several months, many families have reached out with questions, concerns, and thoughtful perspectives regarding student screen time and the growing role of artificial intelligence (AI) in education. We appreciate the interest in these topics and wanted to share an update on the work currently underway.

As previously shared, the District has established a Technology with Intention Work Group comprised of teachers, administrators, and support staff from across our school community. This group will examine current research, review our existing practices, gather stakeholder feedback, and ultimately develop guidance for GUFS on both student screen time and the use of artificial intelligence in education.

The work group will meet four times throughout the school year. During those meetings, members will review research on screen time and AI, examine baseline data on technology use in our classrooms, consider feedback from students, staff, and families, and discuss how these issues affect teaching and learning in Garrison.

I am also pleased to share that the District has contracted with Dr. Sheryl Gonzalez Ziegler, a nationally recognized psychologist, author, and consultant whose work focuses on children, technology, social media, and mental health. Dr. Ziegler will serve as a subject matter expert and support the work group throughout this process.

As part of this work, we have scheduled a virtual community forum with Dr. Ziegler on April 8, 2027, at 6:30 p.m. During this session, Dr. Ziegler will share research and insights on technology, screen time, and AI, and families will have the opportunity to learn more and join the conversation. We will share additional details as we get closer to the event.

We know these topics are top of mind for many of our families. Questions about screen time, technology, and artificial intelligence are not unique to Garrison. Schools and communities across the country are wrestling with many of the same issues. While opinions vary widely on these topics, we want our community to know we are approaching this work thoughtfully, comprehensively, and deliberately. Rather than rushing to conclusions, we are committed to studying the research, examining our own practices, learning from experts, and listening to the perspectives of those who know our students best.

Equally important, parents and guardians will have multiple opportunities to share their perspectives throughout this process. In addition to the community forum in April, we will be distributing a parent/guardian survey this winter to gather feedback. We want to hear from you. Your perspectives will help inform our work as we consider how technology and AI can best support teaching, learning, and student well-being.

This process aims to develop thoughtful, research-informed guidance that reflects the unique needs and values of the Garrison community. We anticipate sharing the work group's findings and recommendations with the community and Board of Education on June 2, 2027.

We also look forward to the Board of Education's Policy Committee using the work group's findings and recommendations to inform the development of a future District Artificial Intelligence (AI) Policy.

Thank you for your continued partnership as we undertake this important work together. We look forward to keeping the community informed and sharing what we learn throughout the process.

For those interested in learning more about the Technology with Intention Work Group and the process we will be following throughout the year, I invite you to join me at the next PTA Village Forum on December 16, 2026, at 8:45 a.m. in the Learning Commons. I look forward to sharing additional information and answering questions about this important initiative.

Dr. Greg Stowell

Superintendent

Garrison UFSD