The Referendum Community Advisory Committee met for a second time on June 17, with the committee members holding productive conversations on what should be included in a large-scale facilities referendum to go before Westfield voters next April and at what cost.  Dr. González and Business Administrator Patricia Ramos reviewed key topics and answered questions raised at the May 20 meeting.  Based on feedback from the committee and the community, district administration will prepare a final bond referendum proposal over the summer for the committee's review at its third and final meeting on September 9.

Also shared at the June 17 meeting were results of the recent community Thought Exchange, which asked the question:  What are some things you would most like to see in a facilities referendum in order to support the success of our students?  An Executive Summary of the community Exchange is provided here for your review as well.

Over the summer, students will continue to have access to our network resources to support their learning. Whether using a district-issued Chromebook or logging in with their district account, our network security features will remain active, including our web filter and Gaggle Safety Management System. As previously communicated, whenever a student is logged into district accounts or devices, our safety management system monitors student email, web searches, chats, and browser activity for any signs of self-harm, cyberbullying, or other potentially harmful behaviors. Any concerning content is flagged and forwarded to school and district administration.

During the summer, we will contact parents if an alert is brought to our attention to ensure they are informed. Depending on the severity of the alert, responses could include an email or phone call from an administrator or outreach to the Westfield Police Department.

Please remind your students to use their school-issued devices and accounts solely for educational purposes. As always, students are expected to adhere to the district's Device Acceptable Use Agreement when using school-issued devices. Please review the district's policy regarding School District-Provided Technology to Students to ensure your child uses their device appropriately.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact your school's principal.

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE UPDATE

We’ve known for some time that the pace at which technology changes is both rapid and ever-accelerating. This year, we felt the full force of these advancements with the increased accessibility and utility of Artificial Intelligence in our schools. Throughout the year, we witnessed the damaging effects of the misuse of AI as well as its many benefits, underscoring the need for policy and practice adjustments to ensure that students can use AI safely and ethically.

The Board of Education, in collaboration with the administration, recently revised our HIB policy and student code of conduct for the 2024-2025 school year. These revisions explicitly incorporate AI technology into the definition of cyberbullying and expand the infractions in the code of conduct. This ensures that disciplinary actions for the inappropriate use of artificial intelligence can be applied more widely as warranted, particularly regarding violations of academic integrity, in cases of sexual misconduct / sexual harassment and the creation, possession, or distribution of obscene or pornographic material. 

Throughout this year, committees of administrators and teachers worked diligently to develop a district AI Position Statement with guiding principles for teachers, students, and parents. Additionally, in mid-June, the New Jersey Department of Education released an AI resources site for school districts. In light of this new information,  we will refine our AI district resources this summer with the NJDOE-provided guidance. 

As we prepare for the upcoming school year, we are excited to share the progress we've made and the resources we've developed to ensure our students use AI responsibly and ethically. We appreciate your ongoing support and partnership as we navigate these advancements together.