FLORENCE, S.C. (WPDE) — Nearly half a million dollars worth of Artificial Intelligence products will be used in Florence District 1 schools.

Florence 1 is the first district in the state to introduce an AI policy.

After several months of planning, school administrators said AI would be a benefit to the district.

“We’re going to give our students a leg up in our state and make sure that they are proficient when they leave our school system,” Kyle Jones, FSD1 Deputy Superintendent said.

The acceptable use of generative artificial intelligence policy along with several AI platforms was approved at the March board of trustees meeting.

Florence 1 teachers and students will be using platforms like Google Gemini, Khan Academy’s Khanmingo, and Magic School.

Kyle Jones is the Deputy Superintendent for Florence 1 school and said using these AI tools can save teachers up to 15 hours a week in planning and grading class material.

“Teachers can never have enough time in the classroom so if you can imagine lessons on planning, assessments, creating tests, IEPs for our special needs students,” Jones said. “AI is going to help enhance that and save teachers valuable time.”

Florence 1 administrators first presented the use of AI in the classroom during their board meeting last October. A month later different district and school staff members started the framework for supporting AI use.

Jones said the list of AI tools was approved based on ethics.

“The platforms that we use are audible, they will adhere to our privacy and data standards and we’re going to make sure that we stay within those platforms of adoption as we utilize ai in the classroom and enhanced ai with our teachers and students,” Jones said.

ABC15 talked with a professor who used to teach in Florence at Francis Marion University.

Doctor Bryan McLeod says he supports the use of AI in K-12 schools.

He said he’s even implementing the use of AI in college classrooms.

“AI is not going anywhere and it’s a tool and if we don’t show our students how to use it from a very young age then it increases the likelihood of them being unethical when they use it and using it to cheat,” McLeod said.

Florence 1 is currently working on a chat box for the district website that can inform parents about upcoming events or important dates happening in the school district.

More information about AI standards in Florence 1 can be found on their district website here.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) – Florence 1 Schools

F1S and Artificial Intelligence. Florence 1 Schools is embracing AI to revolutionize teaching and learning. Recognizing AI’s potential as both a “teaching assistant” and “personalized tutor,” the district aims to free up teachers and personalize student learning.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) – Florence 1 Schools