Parents from the Buckeye Union High School District joined an online discussion Tuesday hosted by Smart Social to explore how artificial intelligence can be used in education and how families can guide students toward safe and effective use.
Superintendent Steve Bebee outlined how the district is introducing AI tools into classrooms and setting boundaries for their use.
Bebee said the district has purchased Magic School, a cutting-edge AI tool for district teachers.
“It’s an AI platform that is built for K–12 education. Having this AI opportunity will help teachers write more high-quality lessons,” he said. “It also will then allow students to use some of those tools to also start to explore and enhance their skills. Both our staff and our teachers to really start to explore AI and to start to look at its benefit in the world of education."
He also described the district’s “AI stoplight” system.
“It can let students know when they can use it a little bit, when they can use a lot of it, and when it cannot be used at all,” he said. “Having those clear parameters around it means almost every student has the ability to have a personal tutor every day, anywhere they are at any time in the day. It allows for a student to be able to take things deeper, to have a better understanding.”
Bebee believes a major concern is students using free AI platforms without realizing the risks.
“They… drop their name, drop personal information, they put things in there and it can never be removed,” he said. “And so now their information is out there, and it’s out there forever for people to get to."
On the future of AI in education, Bebee believes it’s here to stay permanently.
“AI is here, it’s here to stay, and it’s not going away. It’s just going to… improve and be a part of it… Those people who can use AI will have a huge advantage in the workplace and in the world, you live in. Knowing how to use it and how to evolve safely with it and use this as a tool for our advantage is very important for our students to understand.”
Speakers outlined several categories of risks tied to student AI use:
Misinformation & Manipulation
- Deepfakes — AI can generate convincing fake videos, images, or audio that can mislead students or damage reputations.
- False or biased answers — AI may provide incorrect or skewed information that students accept without verification.
Harmful Content & Misuse
- Image manipulation tools — AI “nudify” apps that digitally undress people in photos can lead to harassment, bullying, and legal issues.
- AI companions — Chatbots designed to mimic relationships can give harmful advice or encourage unsafe behavior.
- Cheating & plagiarism — Using AI to complete assignments without understanding the material can undermine learning.
Over-reliance & Skill Loss
- Reduced critical thinking — If students accept AI responses uncritically, they may weaken problem-solving and independent research skills.
- Loss of personal voice — As one educator noted, overusing AI for writing can make students’ work generic and less authentic.
Mental Health Impacts
- Isolation — Replacing human interaction with AI chatbots can lead to increased loneliness or detachment.
- Exposure to inappropriate topics — Some AI tools may drift into adult or harmful conversations, even without the student seeking them out.
Bebee encouraged families to stay involved to mitigate risks associated with new technology.
“You have the right to always be in the know with what your kids are doing,” he said. “The only safeguards are parents."
To watch a replay of the event, parents can click here.
