Earlier this year, Fresno Unified’s former Chief Communications Officer Nikki Henry resigned after it was discovered that internal materials she created about the teachers’ union — assembled using artificial intelligence — contained fabricated quotes.
Following her departure, district leaders approved a $162,000 severance payment. That decision raised a question many educators and taxpayers quietly asked: What could that same amount of money have done for Fresno classrooms instead?
Turning to AI for Perspective
Curious, I posed that question to two popular AI tools — Perplexity AI and ChatGPT — asking each:
“If Fresno Unified had an extra $162,000 at its disposal, what might it do to improve student learning and school culture? What might it buy, and which employees might it hire for maximum results?”
Both programs responded quickly and thoughtfully.
What Perplexity AI Said
Perplexity described $162,000 as a “manageable but meaningful sum” that could drive real improvement through targeted investments — such as:
- Updating classroom technology and digital learning tools
- Expanding funding for music, clubs, and sports
- Hiring instructional coaches or classroom aides
Its takeaway: even modest resources, used strategically, can strengthen student engagement and achievement.
What ChatGPT Proposed
ChatGPT’s approach was more detailed. After I asked it to balance academic and cultural priorities, it suggested splitting funds among three high-need schools:
- Elementary School – $46,000
- Middle School – $58,000
- High School – $58,000
The reasoning: middle and high schools often face larger academic gaps and behavior challenges, while elementary investments build long-term literacy and numeracy foundations.
For the elementary site, it outlined this sample budget:
- Part-time Academic Intervention Teacher (0.4 FTE) – $37,200
- Restorative Practices Training + PBIS Coaching Stipends – $7,500
- Intervention Materials and Licenses – $1,300
The plan included equally specific allocations for the other two schools, blending staff support with classroom resources.
The Takeaway
Both AI systems offered realistic ideas that — if pursued — could strengthen Fresno Unified’s four stated goals: early literacy, life skills, college and career readiness, and student wellness.
Of course, as journalists and technologists often caution, AI sometimes “hallucinates”, so any proposal would need careful vetting by district educators and budget experts.
Still, these exercises remind us that $162,000 is not trivial. Used wisely, it could fund tutoring, counselors, music instruments, or technology that directly serves students.
When public dollars are involved, opportunity cost matters. Let’s hope that, going forward, Fresno Unified’s financial decisions align with the educational priorities it holds so dear.
