Schools Superintendent Joshua Garrett will host “Community Conversations” at 7 p.m. Nov. 20 and Dec. 4 at the Nolan Center to gather public input on the district’s purpose, how students are taught and whether emerging technologies such as generative artificial intelligence should be used in classrooms.

“Almost everywhere I go in this community, I speak to people who have questions and ideas about the current system,” Garrett said. “There are a lot of great ideas out there, so I think this would be a good way to get things moving with the community.”

He hopes the forums will be the first of many as he pursues higher student achievement and a shared vision for the schools. He framed the discussion around three questions: why children are educated, how they are taught and what role new tools should play.

“I’m asking why we educate because I think it’s important that all of us are on the same page,” he said. “I’m asking how because so many people have so many ideas that I think we should share those ideas and build on them.”

Generative AI will be a key topic, Garrett said, noting both its promise and parents’ concerns.

“The reality is that technology continues to develop and will soon be everywhere,” he said. “It is the future, and we don’t know just how many professional areas it will cover by the time this generation is in the workforce. It is something that needs to be discussed.”

He sees practical classroom uses for AI, if deployed responsibly.

“There are so many positive things that AI can do already that aren’t being taken advantage of,” he said. “For example, I can definitely see it being used as an effective tutor in the classroom under close teacher supervision. I think anything that can help a child learn is a valuable tool.”

He added that the community’s ability to act quickly is an advantage he hopes to channel toward the school district.

“I love that this community has real autonomy to implement effective changes quickly, and I’d like to see that level of ingenuity directed at our schools.”