MANAWA, WI – The Manawa School District is looking ahead with new policies designed to strengthen student safety and establish clear expectations for the use of artificial intelligence in the classroom.
District Administrator Ryan Peterson said the changes reflect the district’s commitment to protecting students while adapting to new state requirements and rapidly evolving technology.
“Safety is something that we take very seriously here in Manawa and we do every single day,” Peterson said. “I don’t take for granted, not for a single second, the amount of trust that parents give the school district to make sure their kids are well taken care of.”
The updated student communication policy comes in response to changes in Wisconsin law and will take effect Sept. 1. Under the new policy, staff members will be required to communicate with students only through district-approved platforms, such as school email, Google communication tools, and monitored applications like SportsU.
Peterson said those systems allow the district to archive and review communications if needed, creating greater transparency while preventing private conversations on personal devices.
“We want to make sure that communication is very transparent,” Peterson said. “We want to make sure that communication is incredibly appropriate and really honors those professional boundaries when we have adults that work for the school system interacting with children.”
The Manawa School Board is also reviewing a new artificial intelligence policy aimed at helping students use AI responsibly rather than eliminating it from the classroom altogether.
Peterson said the district recognizes AI is becoming a regular part of students’ lives and wants to teach them how to use the technology appropriately.
“We want it to become a resource, not something that’s going to take over doing the work for our students here,” Peterson said.
Rather than allowing unrestricted access to public AI programs, the district plans to use controlled platforms, including Google’s Gemini, which allows the school to maintain oversight while giving students access to AI-powered learning tools.
Peterson said the district’s goal is to balance innovation with academic integrity, ensuring students learn how to use AI to support their education instead of replacing their own work.
The Manawa School Board is expected to hold the second and final reading of both policies during its meeting tonight at 6 p.m. at the district office boardroom, located at 800 Beach Street. Peterson said community members are encouraged to attend and review the proposed policies, with agendas, meeting minutes, and policy documents also available on the district’s website.
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