We Analyzed 60 School Board Meetings - Here's What We Found

Recently we’ve been doing a lot of work applying AI to the challenges of school governance. That got us wondering what trends we could uncover if we looked across board meeting transcripts at scale - to discover what is actually happening on the ground in what would otherwise be largely invisible, but consequential, board governance decisions. We analyzed a representative cross section of public education boards with good geographic, size, and socioeconomic diversity from earlier this fall, and here are three trends that popped out of the more than 600,000 words examined.

Trend 1: Financial strain and strategic budgeting amid funding uncertainty

Surprising no one: across multiple districts, school boards are confronting significant financial pressures shaped by reduced or frozen federal funding, rising costs (especially employee benefits and food services), and the complex effects of property tax reassessment. Districts are engaging in multi-year budget planning, conservative revenue forecasting, and prioritizing allocations carefully to manage deficits without compromising student services.

• Glynn County (GA) - Reports on balanced budgets tempered by food service fund challenges and infrastructure investments; discussions on reductions in federal funds impacting Title I-IV programs.
• Brandywine (DE) - Detailed tax rate reset due to property reassessment; federal grants freeze causing funding gaps; recommendation of a tax increase to cover losses; budget amendments with deficit concerns. “The federal government has frozen Title II, III, and IV funding. So that’s putting us in a hole to start 25-26.”
• Tacoma (WA) - $30M deficit tackled through position eliminations; federal funding loss affecting Title programs; emphasis on multi-year budget plans and strategic cost control. “In the development of this year’s budget, we eliminated approximately $30 million of expenses. It’s our intent to drive our expenses to be within the revenues, but it’s also our intent to ensure that we’re working to support student needs.”

Why now

The key drivers are multi-layered: lingering federal funding freezes post-pandemic, escalating inflation affecting operational costs and salary/benefit obligations, combined with state-mandated property tax reassessments causing shifts in revenue bases. Additionally, the uncertainty in grant renewals and state funding models forces districts into conservative and complex budget strategies.

Trend 2: Uniform cell phone policies, framed around mental health and learning

Multiple districts are finalizing or adopting uniform phone and personal electronic device usage policies, often mandated by state law, to restrict usage during instructional hours. These discussions combine concerns about social media’s impact on student mental health, instructional disruptions, and safety. The policy debate also tackles nuances such as smartwatch use, emergency communication needs, and the role of parents and teachers in policy enforcement.

• San Diego Unified (CA) - Detailed development and approval of district-wide phone bans aligned with the Governor’s law; rich community and student engagement; creation of support toolkits for implementation. “We paid attention to our US surgeon general talking about social media and the significant harm that it’s causing to our students and children.”
• New Albany-Plain Local (OH) - Adoption of state-uniform phone ban policy for the school day effective 2026; communication plans emphasize parent and student education. “There’s going to be a back to school push to try to help educate the parents and our students in the school district that cell phones will no longer be permissive from bell to bell.”
• Ritenour (MO), Waukesha (WI) - Policy updates echoing legislative mandates (e.g. Senate Bill 68 in MO and others), issues related to electronic devices as distractions, and enforcement challenges. “Senate Bill 68 imposes a pretty strict rule regarding student use of not just cell phones, but all personal communication devices.”

Why now

New legislation in several states (e.g. CA, MO, OH) formalizes phone usage restrictions in schools. Increasing evidence and public concern about mental health and social media effects on youth drive policy. The ubiquity of devices and changing tech (smartwatches, apps) require updated rules and meaningful implementation strategies, often leveraging student/advisory input and communication toolkits.

Trend 3: Early steps toward responsible AI governance

While not yet a dominant theme, artificial intelligence is beginning to appear on school board agendas. A growing number of districts are taking early, structured steps toward responsible AI use, developing policies, launching pilot programs, and establishing advisory committees to manage ethical, instructional, and data privacy considerations. The tone across districts reflects cautious momentum: curiosity balanced with concern.

• Indianapolis Public Schools (IN) - Formal discussions on AI governance, pilot programs, and staff training. “We do not at any point encourage someone going in blindly to using AI… we’ve developed a professional learning roadmap for pilot users for next school year.”
• Willow Springs R-IV (MO) - Contracts and agreements standardizing AI-related data privacy and legal compliance. “What this agreement would do for us is allow us to actually approve things… it is safe for your students to use.”
• Santa Monica-Malibu Unified (CA) - Updated board policies on “corporate use of artificial intelligence” and plans for an AI advisory committee to oversee responsible adoption.
• Other districts such as Glynn County (GA) and North Harrison (IN) mention AI briefly within technology plans or licensing updates, suggesting early awareness but limited policy depth.

Why now

Districts are beginning to navigate the practical and ethical implications of generative AI tools like ChatGPT and Gemini. Early adopters are developing governance frameworks to ensure responsible use, protect student privacy, and prepare educators through AI literacy and professional learning. The current phase likely marks a transition from sporadic mentions to the formation of structured policies. As more states and education agencies issue guidance, we expect AI to evolve from a peripheral topic to a central theme of district governance in the months ahead.

Curious about a trend or district you care about? Tell us, and we’ll run a focused read.