Wayland School Committee reviews tech, summer programs at Sept. 11 meeting

WAYLAND — September 11, 2024 — Wayland School Committee bids farewell to 16-year tech director as AI takes center stage. Departing Digital Learning Director Leisha Simon walked the committee through the district's hardware leases, new PowerSchool rollout and pilot use of the Brisk AI teaching tool, telling members "you lead the ship, but they do all the work" in thanking her staff. High school specialist Mark Liddell said there is "no actual legal student use model right now" for ChatGPT or Gemini because of under-18 consent rules. Director of Student Services Ronnie Kessler reported about 40 students attended Extended School Year programs at Loker and 10 received services in Boston, including six through a new Metco summer partnership; roughly 25 of 110 invited families declined. Assistant Superintendent Betsy Gavron said Pegasus served 120 children and the grant-funded Idea Academy drew 28 Wayland high schoolers. The committee unanimously approved the consent agenda before entering executive session.