What About Using AI at JSCEE?

In the comments for The Seattle Times' story on Board candidates and their answers to the Times' questions, there were a couple of comments that caught my eye.

One commenter highlighted what different candidates said and made the claim that they believed most of those comments were AI-generated. Reviewing some of those statements, I'm inclined to wonder myself. I sure hope not.

FYI, I will never use AI here. It's just not my style even though it might improve my writing.  

As well, someone asked this question:

Hello, do you think AI programs could eliminate at least 30% of the non-teaching admins? That would really help taxpayers.

There is a regular commenter on public education stories who goes by OSPI Retired Professional. He/she/they has really good insights with long answers. Here's what that person said to that question (I reformated the answer for clarity.):

It’s a bold idea, and honestly, not entirely out of reach. SPS is already dipping its toes into AI, exploring tools like MagicSchool AI to help teachers generate lesson plans, write feedback, and manage classroom tasks more efficiently.

But what about the administrative side—the behind-the-scenes work that keeps the district running?

There’s real potential here. AI could automate a wide range of routine tasks:
- enrollment processing,
- attendance tracking,
- scheduling,
- data entry, and even
- basic communications with parents and students.

Imagine a chatbot that answers common questions about school calendars or district policies, freeing up staff to focus on more complex issues.

Or an AI system that builds optimized class schedules based on teacher availability and student needs.

These aren’t futuristic fantasies—they’re already being tested in other districts.

But here’s where things get complicated. Public education isn’t a tech startup. It’s governed by union contracts, privacy laws, and community expectations. Many administrative roles involve judgment, empathy, and context—things AI still struggles to replicate. And even when automation is possible, it doesn’t always mean jobs can or should be eliminated. Sometimes, AI simply shifts the workload, allowing staff to focus on higher-value tasks.

SPS is also taking a cautious, student-centered approach to AI. Their official stance emphasizes ethical use, transparency, and protecting student data. That means any move toward automation will be deliberate and measured—not a sweeping overhaul.

So, could AI help eliminate 30% of non-teaching admin roles? In theory, yes. In practice, it’s more likely to augment those roles than replace them outright—at least in the short term. But even modest reductions or reassignments could lead to meaningful taxpayer savings and a more efficient system.

The key will be thoughtful implementation, clear communication, and a willingness to rethink how schools operate—not just with technology, but with us (that is, people) at the center.


Another commenter asked in a different way and here's what Retired OSPI Professional said:

But cutting back isn’t always simple. Some of those behind-the-scenes jobs—like data analysts, family liaisons, or student services coordinators—might not be in classrooms, but they’re the duct tape holding everything together.

Instead of downsizing, maybe it’s time we modernized and made those roles work smarter, not harder.

AI could actually be a huge help here. And we’re not talking sci-fi robots—this stuff’s already happening in schools:

- Kindergarten registration? AI’s trimming processing time by 50%, saving staff from drowning in paperwork.

- Attendance? Biometric systems are logging students in real time—no more “Where’s your buddy?” roll calls.

- Have a question about lunch menus or calendar changes? One state's State College's chatbot answers in seconds, not after three phone calls and a voicemail.

- Class schedules? AI makes them with Jedi-like precision, reducing clashes and making life easier for staff.

- Mountains of transcripts? Another state's Institute of Technology now gets them done in a day. Used to take weeks!

- Financial aid chaos? Highline College cut emails and phone calls by 75% with automated trackers.

So yeah, maybe it’s not just about shaving budgets—it’s about using smart tech to free people up for work that really matters. We get lean and get better. Win-win. 

Thoughts?