from the desk of the executive director
Artificial Intelligence: Embracing Possibility, Protecting Responsibility Laurie N. Fellenz, Executive Director
Artificial intelli- gence is changing how we work, com- municate, create and access infor- mation at a remark- able pace. Tools that seemed experi- mental only a few years ago are now
readily available to educators, students, businesses, nonprofit organizations and individuals. They can help us brainstorm ideas, organize information, improve writ- ing, analyze data and accomplish routine tasks more efficiently. At the same time, the rapid expansion of AI raises impor- tant questions about privacy, intellectual property, accuracy, authorship, copyright and our responsibility for the information entrusted to us.
For these reasons, on June 9, 2026, our Wisconsin School Music Association (WSMA) Board of Directors approved the WSMA Artificial Intelligence Policy establishing expectations for the respon- sible use of AI in our organizational work. Because WSMA provides shared services to Wisconsin Music Educators Association (WMEA) and Wisconsin Foundation for School Music (WFSM), the policy applies
to work conducted on behalf of all three organizations.
The policy is not intended to discourage the use of AI. Quite the opposite: it recognizes that these emerging tools have tremendous potential. Our responsibility is to learn how to use them thoughtfully while ensuring that human judgment, professional exper- tise and ethical responsibility remain at the center of our work.
AI as a Tool – Not a Replacement for Human Judgment
Under the policy, AI may be used for many appropriate purposes. Staff, contractors, volunteers and committee leaders may use AI to help brainstorm ideas, develop outlines, prepare preliminary drafts, im- prove grammar and readability, summarize publicly available information, create tem- plates or suggest workflows, and analyze information that is not confidential. There is, however, one requirement that applies to all of these uses: AI-generated content must be reviewed, edited and verified by a human before it is used. That distinction is important.
AI can generate remarkably polished mate- rial, but polished does not necessarily mean
accurate. AI systems can produce incorrect information, perpetuate biases, misinterpret context and even generate sources, quota- tions or statistics that do not exist. The per- son using AI therefore remains responsible for the accuracy, quality and integrity of the finished work. Our guiding principle is straightforward: AI should assist human judgment, not replace it.
This is particularly important within or- ganizations dedicated to education. The expertise, experience and perspective that educators, staff members, volunteers and leaders bring to our work cannot simply be delegated to technology. AI can help us organize an idea or explore possibilities, but people must determine what is ac- curate, appropriate and ultimately worth communicating.
Dates & Deadlines
wsmamusic.org/important- dates-and-deadlines
Don’t miss a beat – mark your calendar!
8 Important WSMA
Protecting the Information Entrusted to Us Perhaps the most important component of the policy concerns information security. Our organizations are entrusted with a significant amount of information. Some belongs to individual members, educa- tors or students. Some relates to finances, contracts, personnel, governance or or- ganizational strategy. Other information represents intellectual property developed through years of work by staff, volunteers, committees and association leaders. Public AI systems are not appropriate repositories for that information.
The policy therefore prohibits entering confidential or sensitive organizational information into public AI systems. This includes member or personally identifiable information; financial records and budgets; contracts, legal documents or negotiations; personnel records; strategic plans and board materials; internal reports and working or unpublished documents; unpublished research; and security credentials or pass- words.
September 2026
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80
