Director of Technology Michael Shimmel speaks to the Board of Education

SHERMAN– Sherman Central School District Board of Education members received a presentation on the 44th Annual National Future of Education Technology Conference from Director of Technology Michael Shimmel at their regular meeting this month.

Shimmel told board members that he also attended a conference about security in technology in Fredonia. “I learned a lot at that one,” he said. “but it’s not too terribly different from what we already do.”

The biggest issue at the national conference involved artificial intelligence, Shimmel said. He told the board that he attended 4 or 5 workshops on that subject. “To me, this is quite scary,” he said.

One of the main issues for teachers is how to prevent students from using AI to write their reports and compositions. He noted that, at one workshop, they stress that the use of AI cannot technically be called plagiarism because it does create new material. The proper term is “academic dishonesty,” he added.

Shimmel said there are several programs for detecting the use of AI in assignments, however, he feels they are not adequate. “To my way of thinking, 50% of the detection programs are not effective,” he said.

Rather, Shimmel said, the district must trust its teachers in this matter. “If a kid was writing at a certain level a week ago, and now they are writing at a level ten times higher, the teacher should know that something’s not right about that,” he said.

In other business, Superintendent Carrie Yohe updated board members on the district’s capital project and the capital outlay project.

Regarding the capital project, she said the district is working with Architectural firm Young & Wright in the design of the cafeteria. “We are still discussing the serving line to make sure hot foods are safely brought out,” she said.

Also, regarding the two additional classrooms which will be constructed, Yohe noted they cannot be pre-K through second grade classrooms because those need to have bathrooms in them. She added that upper elementary, middle and high school classrooms require particular cabinets.

Yohe went on to tell board members that a change order of $15,522 had been processed for the capital outlay project. This change order is necessary for changes in the bathrooms and is on top of the $100,000 budget.

Yohe also reported that Sherman Spanish teacher Laura Penhollow attended a meeting at Southwestern Central School about the Seal of Biliteracy Program. “We would like to start this program,” she said. “We have six to eight students who are enrolled for Spanish IV.”

Yohe said the district would eventually like to have its own biliteracy team, but right now they would probably have to join with another school.

Yohe also updated the board members on the shared decision team committee meeting. The committee consists of faculty, staff, parents, administration, and students. The committee discussed the importance of making opportunities for students focus on culture and community connections both inside and out of the district. “We are looking for opportunities to connect our students with our community,” she said .

In other business, School Business Administrator Kim Oehlbeck reviewed some preliminary figures for the 2024-25 district budget. The BOCES budget, administration and total programming expenditures are expected to increase, she said.

Board members approved several resolutions, including the appointment of the Law Firm of Bond, Schoeneck & King, PLLC as the legal counsel for the remainder of the 2023-24 school year.

Another resolution involves the approval of bid awards for the upcoming AC Grant Project, based on recommendations from Young & Wright. The General Trades contract was awarded to Allgaier Construction Corp. in the amount of $133, 260. The Mechanical Contract was awarded to Chautauqua Mechanical for $389,123. The Controls Contract went to Stark U & S in the amount of $130,395.

Board members also approved a field trip request by Greg Cross to allow members of the Historians for Humanity Club to go to Washington, D.C., from March 8 to 10.

In a related matter, the board approved the tentative itinerary for the Class of 2024 to visit Washington, DC, Hershey Park and Gettysburg on April 26 to 28.