Board Weighs Five Draft AI Principles, Approves 25-Year Gym Deal
Board of Trustees • San Mateo Union High School DistrictOctober 22, 2026
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San Mateo Union High School District trustees spent the longest stretch of their Oct. 22, 2026, meeting on how artificial intelligence should enter classrooms. The board took no vote on the five draft principles, but trustees made clear that guardrails, privacy and fair academic integrity procedures will decide whether the effort earns their support. The board also approved every action item 5-0, including a new 25-year agreement with the City of San Mateo for the community gym.
- Five draft AI principles debuted. Trustees pressed on privacy, equity and false cheating flags.
- New 25-year gym deal with City of San Mateo approved 5-0.
- A parent asked for a safety transfer to Aragon High School. The board took no action.
- Trustees linked Little Rock Nine history to immigration enforcement fears among students.
AI Principles Put Human Learning at the Center
The basics: The district's AI work is in its second year. It followed a task force and a May study session. Two committees, AI Steering and Instructional Framework, now operate as one integrated effort.
Where things stand: Staff and a student member presented five draft principles:
- Keep learning at the center.
- Preserve human agency.
- Advance equity and AI literacy.
- Promote responsible and ethical use.
- Commit to continuous learning.
Presenters framed the work around safeguarding students' critical thinking. They described a "walled-garden" tool for students. A walled garden is a closed platform that limits what users and the tool can reach. Presenters also outlined planned AI literacy modules that could run during flex time or orientation days.
The board's pressure points: Trustees raised implementation, data privacy in free AI tools, digital citizenship, transparency and equity. They also flagged legal exposure when software falsely flags a student's work as AI-generated, and they asked for clear academic integrity procedures and for teachers to model good AI use.
"We've got to really work on guardrails, ethics," said Trustee Robert H. Griffin.
Trustee Greg Land welcomed the structure. "I love the integration of the two committees together," he said.
Student board representatives shared their own experiences with AI in school.
Why it matters: The principles are drafts, not policy. Still, they will shape how teachers use AI, how student data is handled and how students are accused of AI misuse. The false-flag concern matters most to families. An accusation of cheating can follow a student, and trustees signaled they want due process built in before any tool is used to police students' work.
Decisions and stakeholder impacts: The board took no vote. Students gain a voice in the process through the student member's role. Teachers face new expectations around modeling and AI literacy instruction. District administrators will need privacy and integrity procedures strong enough to satisfy a board focused on legal risk.
What's next: Staff will carry trustee feedback back into the drafts. No adoption date was announced.
City, District Seal New 25-Year Gym Deal
Where things stand: Trustees unanimously approved an updated 25-year joint use agreement with the City of San Mateo for the San Mateo Community Gym, which is shared with San Mateo High School. The 2002 agreement included a 25-year extension option that could be exercised starting in 2027.
Yancy Hawkins, presenting for district Business Services, said staff did not simply exercise that option. Instead, staff negotiated an interest-based update with the city. "Staff recommends approval of the agreement, and I'm happy to answer any questions," Hawkins said.
The institutional memory: Trustee Robert H. Griffin took part in the 2002 negotiations. He said the new deal improves on the one he helped write. "It's a sounder agreement from usage, finances, everything," Griffin said.
Why it matters: Joint use agreements let cities and school districts share costly facilities instead of each building their own. This deal secures long-term public access to the gym and updates terms for both the city and the high school.
Decisions and stakeholder impacts: Griffin moved approval and Trustee Greg Land seconded. The motion passed (For: 5, Against: 0). San Mateo High School students and city recreation users both keep a shared home for decades. Neither agency faces the uncertainty of an expiring option.
Parent Presses Board for Daughter's Safety Transfer
Where things stand: Nerissa Villanueva, speaking as a parent, was the meeting's only public commenter. She said her daughter was drugged on campus on March 16, 2026. She also said the incident led to an arrest and felony charges and that the criminal case remains active. These are her assertions, not findings by the board.
Villanueva asked for an immediate, permanent safety transfer to Aragon High School. She said administration was applying standard transfer protocols and pushing back on her request. She called that response unacceptable and urged trustees to intervene.
Why it matters: The comment brought a student safety dispute between a family and district administration into open session. It raises questions about how transfer protocols handle cases tied to active criminal matters.
What's next: The board did not respond or act. Villanueva said a resolution meeting is scheduled for the following week.
Trustees Tie Civil Rights History to Immigration Fears
Where things stand: Superintendent Randall Booker and trustees recounted Little Rock Nine events held at Hillsdale and Peninsula Temple Shalom.
Trustee Ligia Andrade Zúñiga connected that history to immigration enforcement today. "There's a huge surge right now in San Mateo County," she said. She said parents were picked up in Half Moon Bay and that some children are not coming to school. She described support efforts through Rooted Together and Faith in Action, and she advocated for ethnic studies.
Why it matters: Andrade Zúñiga tied curriculum choices to student attendance and family stability. Attendance drops can affect both learning and school funding.
The ballot connection: With local school board seats on the ballot, several speakers urged people to vote. "I implore you to go out, exercise your right to vote," said Garrett Wolfskill, Chapter President, CSEA Chapter 519, the union representing classified employees. He framed his call as nonpartisan. Student board representatives said they discussed candidates at their own meeting.
Board Vice President Jennifer Jacobson pointed to reports of stolen campaign signs and disinformation. "We also need to be kind," she said.
Minor Items
- Closed session: The board upheld a district investigation on appeal under AR 1312.1 (For: 5, Against: 0) and approved four student discipline cases 5-0.
- Consent and HR items: The board approved the 14-item consent agenda, the HR consent agenda and a personnel addendum, each 5-0. The HR items included a CSEA Chapter 519 MOU on job descriptions, revisions to Board Policy 4318.4, a 2027 HSA contribution adjustment for IRS compliance and an MOU with the Kyle J. Foundation and Peninsula Healthcare System.
- Digital Wall of Honor: The board approved 5-0 a curator job description for an online archive honoring former students who served in any uniformed service or the reserves. Graduation is not required to be honored.
- Tenure ceremony: The district honored dozens of certificated and classified employees who earned tenure or permanent status.
- Reports: Lynette Garcia, Vice President, San Mateo Adult School Federation of Teachers (CFT Local 4861), thanked the district for a negotiated agreement. Student representatives read proclamations for Native American Heritage Month and National Homeless Youth Awareness Month.
Looking ahead: Trustee Robert H. Griffin asked for a future report tracking how students fared after administrative transfers, expulsions and discipline contracts. "It would be nice to have a report on discipline," he said. Trustee Ligia Andrade Zúñiga suggested adding Gateway to the review. No timeline was set.