HOPKINSVILLE, KY (CHRISTIAN COUNTY NOW) – At the March 5 Christian County Public School Board of Education meeting/workshop, board members approved addendums to the Code of Acceptable Behavior for students to include language about harassment involving Artificial Intelligence.
These newly implemented codes provide models for discipline in the school system in direct response to a recent investigation. On Feb. 18, officers with the Hopkinsville Police Department received reports that inappropriate AI-generated images were created by juveniles and were put in circulation among students in Christian County. Limited details have been released by HPD to protect victims who may be involved.
“Creating or sharing manipulated images of a minor, especially those that are inappropriate or misleading is illegal and can carry serious consequences,” said Bentzel in a public statement to district families before the meeting.
He explained that the parents of the suspected offender(s) contacted HPD directly when they learned about the incident. This coupled with the crime in question taking place off campus is why CCPS Police was not directly involved in the initial investigation.
Changes to Code of Acceptable Behavior
“We have to adapt and adjust, and I think other school districts will follow if they haven’t already in order to protect our kids,” Bentzel told Christian County Now. In response to the investigation, a representative went out to all of the schools and talked to staff and students about AI usage.
The proposed and approved changes to the Code of Acceptable Behavior permits school officials and principals to factor in harmful AI use when behavioral issues are addressed. The new addendums would cover harassment in all forms that are aggravated by AI, enforceable if it takes place on, or adjacent to school property or with school property. The addendums read as follows.
- Add Behavior Violation with AI to the mitigating and aggravating factors when determining a level of response for discipline consequences.
- Add Harassing Communications with AI and Harassment with AI to the Behavior Violations.
- Add the language Behavior Violations involving the use of AI may permit a step increase due to mitigating and or aggravating circumstances.
Bentzel emphasized that this is new territory for the district saying future issues will be analyzed on a case by case by basis. In addition to the code changes, CCPS is in the process of forming an AI taskforce that will work to provide additional guidance and guidelines for teachers and students.
“Unfortunately, this is a lot like the early 90s when the internet came out,” said Assistant Superintendent Jason Wilson during the meeting. “It changes daily but we are doing things to try and protect our students. But there are some things we don’t have control over.”
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Ways to talk to student about illegal AI use
“While these situations typically occur outside of the school day, they can still have a significant impact on students’ safety and well-being. We encourage families to talk with their children about responsible technology use and digital citizenship,” said Bentzel.
Blocks are currently in place to prevent school devices from having access to open AI and chat bot websites and apps. However, some programs that students use have closed AI incorporated into it.
CCPS offered up a few ways that families can help guide students around the use of AI.
- Talk with your child about never creating, editing, or sharing images of others without permission
- Monitor apps, group chats, and social media use
- Remind your child that online actions have real-life consequences
- Encourage your child to speak up if they see or receive concerning content
If you believe your child may be affected:
- Save any messages or images as evidence
- Report the content to the platform
- Contact local law enforcement
- Reach out to the school so we can support your child
| EDUCATION NEWS: Read more from Christian County Schools