Small District, Important Conversations: How A Rural District Built AI Guidance Together

Many small districts assume building thoughtful AI guidance is out of reach. This round table discussion shows otherwise. When Minneota Public Schools, a small rural district in Minnesota, decided it was time to bring clarity to its approach to AI, its superintendent partnered with the SWWC Technology Integration Program to assemble an AI task force, audit current practices and develop AI guidance that fits the community. Walk through the real process, including the tools, frameworks and conversations that moved the district from scattered questions to a structured plan: who was brought to the table, what questions were asked and how those conversations became guidance the community could stand behind. The biggest takeaway is practical: you do not need a large team or a dedicated IT department to do this work. The first step is deciding who needs to be in the room and starting the conversation. You will leave with insights and inspiration for building AI guidance in your district, no matter where you are starting.