The Boardman Board of Education met in a special session in June where the first order of business was to adjourn into an executive session to discuss negotiations with members of the system’s teachers union, the Boardman Board of Education.
      No action was taken, according to an agenda of the meeting that also notes the board approved what was labeled as an “Acceptable Use Policy,” (AUP) and okayed stipends for several employees.
      The AUP says that “Technology is an integral part of learning and administration at Boardman Local School District. This policy (AUP) outlines the expectations for responsible, ethical, and legal use of all Boardman Local School District technology resources, including hardware, software, networks, and internet access.
      “The purpose of this AUP is to promote a safe and productive learning and working environment, protect the integrity and security of Boardman Local School District’s technology infrastructure, ensure equitable access to technology resources, educate students and staff on responsible digital citizenship and extend the lifecycle and maximize the value of our technology investments.”
      The policy applies to all technology resources owned by or connected to the school district, whether used on or off school property, including school-issued devices such as laptops, tablets, iPads and chromebooks; as well as email systems and communication platforms ands internet access provided by the district.
      The AUP points out that “Digital citizenship is about understanding and practicing safe, responsible, and ethical behavior in the digital world and the school district “is committed to fostering responsible digital citizens,” including using “online etiquette (netiquette)” where communication should be respectful and thoughtful, and using all capital letters, excessive exclamation points and inflammatory language is not encouraged.
      “Think before you post or send; once content is online, it can be difficult to remove,” says the AUP that also says that “Cyberbullying, harassment, or intimidation of any kind using school technology is strictly prohibited and will not be tolerated. This includes, but is not limited to, sending hurtful messages, spreading rumors, sharing embarrassing photos/videos without consent, or excluding others online.”
      Use of Artificial Intelligence
      The AUP says the Boardman Local School District “recognizes that Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools can be powerful aids for learning and creativity.
      ` “Students are expected to use AI responsibly, ethically, and in a manner that supports their own learning and academic integrity. Teachers will establish clear guidelines for when AI can be used in their classrooms.
      “In accordance with their teacher’s direction, students are required to cite/identify work generated/created with the use of AI tools and explain/demonstrate how the AI tools were used in the creation of the work.”
      Students are prohibited from presenting someone else’s work as their own, using artificial intelligence platforms in place of one’s own work, as well as providing unauthorized assistance to another student, and cheating in any manner.
      Violations of the AUP can result in disciplinary action.
      “The severity of the consequences will depend on the nature and severity of the violation,” says the AUP.
      Consequences for students who violate the AUP can include a verbal warning, temporary or permanent loss of technology privileges, detention, in-school or out-of-school suspension, expulsion, restitution for damages, or a referral to law enforcement officials if the violation involves illegal activities.
      Stipends
      The school board approved the following stipends:
       •$240 for Cheryl Dutko or her work in the spring production, ‘Mean Girls,’ to be paid out of the Drama Activity account.
       •$800 each to Jared Cardillo, Alphonse Cervello, Michael Gerthung, Jennifer Mohr, Stephanie Racz and Jerome Turillo who are members of the 2025-2026 Local Professional Development Committee. The stipends will be paid out of Title II-A funds.
       •$1,000 each to Amber Collins, Lauren Cunningham, Mikel Flatley, Kassie Gustafson, Lisa Hughes, Erin Navarro, Carrie Sammartino and Laurel Sanders who served as staff members for the Wonders Workbook Curriculum. The stipends will be paid from a Title 2 grant funding source.