Vancouver School Board Candidates Answer Questions on Generative AI in Schools

During the 2026 Vancouver School Board election, The Griffins' Nest sent trustee candidates a questionnaire asking for their stance on the use of generative AI in schools and published their responses on September 28. OneCity Vancouver candidate Christopher Lee called for a new AI policy, limiting use to senior grades and strengthening privacy protections; Sherry Breshears, Rory Brown and Krista Sigurdson said they do not support unrestricted use of AI chatbots while opposing a full ban.

These responses show that rules for generative AI use in K-12 schools are becoming an election issue in local education governance, touching on curriculum management, student privacy and teacher capacity. If the candidates' proposals enter school board decisions, they would directly affect the scope and regulation of AI tools in Vancouver schools. These are currently individual candidate positions, not adopted or implemented district policy, so the actual impact depends on the election outcome and subsequent decisions. AI tool use rules in Vancouver schools may change with the election outcome, affecting the tools available to students and teachers. The privacy protection and teacher professional development directions proposed by candidates could change district requirements for AI education product procurement and training.