photo by: Joselyn King

Ohio County Schools Superintendent Rick Jones, left, and board of education member Bernie Albertini consider discussion during Monday night’s board meeting.

WHEELING — Ohio County Schools is seeking to tackle the issue of how artificial intelligence is being used to negatively modify photos of students that are being posted online.

A district-wide meeting on school safety has been set for 8:15 a.m. Oct. 31 at the Ohio County Board of Education office, 2203 National Road, Wheeling. The meeting is open to the public.

Those who cannot attend in person may watch the livestream of the meeting, which can be accessed through the school district’s website, Facebook page and YouTube channel.

Ohio County Schools is seeking to form a policy that keeps students from having their photo taken and having their body images shared on social media, explained Superintendent Kim Miller during Monday’s board of education meeting.

“We’re looking to see what that will mean as a protection piece,” she explained. “It’s a real thing, and it is happening to our kids.

“We have talked to an attorney, who is looking at a class action suit and how we can jump on and be a part of that so that we can help our kids that have been impacted by this social media abuse.”

Assistant Superintendent Rick Jones added the school district wants “to make sure we have a very good policy to address” the issue of AI manipulation of student photos.

He added that he has been researching the topic of AI and schools, and plans to share at the meeting the information he has gathered.

Jones hopes there also will be representatives from law enforcement and a juvenile prosecutor in attendance.

“I’m hoping there will be consensus, and that we will see a policy (come forward) that we will be able to write,” he said.

Board president David Croft did not attend Monday night’s board meeting. Member Molly Aderholt presided in his absence.

The next regular meeting of the board will be at 6 p.m. on Oct. 27 at the board office.