On Thursday, February 26, 2026, Dr. Jim Hanna, Superintendent of Rossville Consolidated School District, and Mr. Dustin Shadbolt, Director of Technology, delivered a featured presentation at the Indiana Association of School Business Officials (IASBO) Region I meeting hosted by Crown Point School Corporation.
The session, titled “Using AI to Optimize School District Operations,” focused on practical strategies for leveraging artificial intelligence to streamline school business operations, increase productivity, and support central office teams during a time of fiscal challenges brought on by SEA 1.
IASBO Region I members, representing school corporations across northwest Indiana, participated in an interactive and hands-on learning experience designed to highlight real-world applications of AI tools in educational administration.
Practical Tools for Today’s Business Offices
Dr. Hanna and Mr. Shadbolt demonstrated several AI-powered platforms currently being utilized to improve efficiency within school systems, including Otter.ai for real-time transcription, searchable meeting notes, and automated summaries of board meetings, professional development sessions, and committee work; ChatGPT and other large language models for drafting press releases, analyzing documents, creating communications, generating reports, and enhancing workflow efficiency; Grammarly for polishing written communication and improving clarity and professionalism; and Suno (Suno.com), which was showcased as a creative bonus tool demonstrating AI’s broader capabilities.
Participants observed live demonstrations illustrating how AI can assist with drafting crisis communications and newsletters, analyzing data and documents, creating itineraries and structured reports, transcribing and summarizing lengthy meetings, and improving overall productivity in the business office.
Supporting Schools in Challenging Financial Times
With increased financial pressures facing Indiana school districts, the presentation emphasized how AI can serve as a force multiplier, allowing school leaders and business officials to work smarter while maintaining high standards of professionalism and accuracy.
Dr. Hanna shared that AI is not intended to replace professional expertise, but rather to enhance efficiency and free up valuable time for strategic leadership and student-focused initiatives.
The session also addressed responsible AI usage, including the importance of fact-checking critical information, protecting privacy by avoiding sensitive data, disclosing AI use when appropriate, following ethical and institutional guidelines, and applying human judgment to all final decisions.
A Collaborative Leadership Approach
The partnership between district leadership and technology services at Rossville Consolidated School District reflects a proactive approach to innovation. By aligning administrative strategy with technological advancement, Dr. Hanna and Mr. Shadbolt continue to model forward-thinking leadership for school systems across the state.
IASBO Region I members expressed strong interest in continuing dialogue on AI implementation and its potential to enhance operational effectiveness across Indiana school corporations.
For more information about Rossville Consolidated School District, visit www.rcsd.k12.in.us.