Marina
Lawrence, Kansas’ public schools have stopped using Gaggle, the AI tool that scans students’ district Google accounts for risks such as self-harm or threats.
At the same time, the district asked a federal judge to dismiss a civil-rights lawsuit filed by nine current and former students who say the program amounted to unconstitutional surveillance of their files and journalism work.
What changed this fall
District leaders say they switched vendors and now use ManagedMethods—a similar monitoring product—citing cost savings.
In an email statement, Superintendent Jeanice Kerr Swift said ManagedMethods is a “proficient tool” that continues safety monitoring and would save the district about $35,000 this year.
Court filings seeking dismissal emphasised that Gaggle use ceased over the summer, though they didn’t initially mention the new vendor.
Why the lawsuit matters
The student plaintiffs, including high-school journalists, argue the district’s program enabled round-the-clock searches of files, emails and images without notice or suspicion, chilled speech (including prior restraint of unpublished reporting), and even caused artwork to be flagged as “child pornography.” T
he district counters that students lack a reasonable expectation of privacy on school systems and that the tools were used to protect safety.
Money & timeline at a glance
- The district bought Gaggle in 2023 under a three-year, $162,000 arrangement; a superintendent declaration says the contract expired in summer 2025 and wasn’t renewed.
- A separate report notes the district agreed to pay $53,000 for the 2024–25 school year, and now expects ≈$35,000 in savings by moving to ManagedMethods.
- Next procedural step: plaintiffs’ response to the dismissal motion is due Nov. 17, 2025.
Quick facts
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| District | Lawrence Public Schools (USD 497), Kansas |
| Old tool | Gaggle (AI + human review of student Google Workspace) |
| New tool | ManagedMethods (“Cloud Monitor” style alerts for self-harm, bullying, explicit content) |
| Switch rationale | Cost savings; continue “student safety” monitoring |
| Reported costs | $162,000 over 3 years (2023 purchase); $53,000 for 2024-25; ≈$35,000 projected savings with new vendor |
| Lawsuit | 9 students allege First & Fourth Amendment violations; district seeks partial dismissal |
| Key dates | Contract ended summer 2025; dismissal motion filed Oct. 28–29, 2025; plaintiffs’ reply due Nov. 17, 2025 |
What each side is saying
- Students: The sweep of monitoring (including of journalism materials) created chilling effects, wrongful flags, and unlawful searches of school and personal devices.
- District: Monitoring on school systems is lawful and reasonable, aligned with online-safety duties; some claims are moot because Gaggle ended.
Why the switch doesn’t end the debate
Even with Gaggle gone, the core question remains: can schools continuously scan student communications and creative work with algorithmic tools without violating rights?
Reporting notes academic research raising concerns about effectiveness, transparency, and mental-health harms of school surveillance—suggesting policy and legal scrutiny will continue.
Lawrence USD 497 has ended Gaggle but kept AI-based monitoring through another tool, while urging the court to throw out the students’ case.
The technology may have changed names, yet the legal and ethical fight over privacy, speech, and safety in Kansas classrooms is very much alive—and the next filings in November 2025 will show whether the lawsuit moves forward or not.