By Logan Wells, News Director | Logan@kymnradio.net
On Monday, the Northfield School Board approved this year’s focus areas for Superintendent Dr. Matt Hillmann. This year, the board approved five focus areas for Hillmann to devote time and resources to implement, and one of those areas is regarding the rise of a new technology, Artificial Intelligence, or AI. The goal is to create an Artificial Intelligence Development Academy for the School District, and Hillmann says now is the optimal time to do so. Here’s Hillmann on KYMN:
“And so AI is still pretty new, though we think, many people think, Oh, we’re already late to the game. We’ve been doing some work with AI, but we now feel that the market is settled enough where we know enough to be able to start doing some intentional work system-wide.” – Dr. Matt Hillmann, Northfield Schools Superintendent, on KYMN In The Morning
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Hillmann said there was precedent for the model on how this academy would look, citing two prior training courses in the district, to work with initially 20 teachers and staff. He noted that AI could be beneficial in the School District’s operations and also play a crucial role in teaching students in the classroom. Here he is at the August 25th School Board Meeting:
“But for the students we are preparing for Success, right for lifelong success, generative AI is going to be part of their life. AI is not going to replace people right but people who know how to use AI are likely going to be much more competitive in the job market.”
– Dr. Matt Hillmann, Northfield Schools Superintendent, at the 8.25.2025 School Board Meeting
After completing the initial training with the academy, the 20 staff members would assist in training the remaining staff in Northfield.
The other Superintendent focus areas include creating a school-to-work program, helping transition the school district after the budget reductions, learning why students open-enroll to other districts, and the experience of BIPOC students in Northfield. Will be covering those areas in other future news stories.
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