The Lawrence USD 497 school district ceased use of the Gaggle monitoring system, according to reporting published by the Lawrence Times. Their reporting also indicated the district began using a similar tool called Managed Methods. Superintendent Jeanice Kerr Swift confirmed its use in an email to the Lawrence Times. 

Gaggle was the AI monitoring system used by the district since 2023. It is also the subject of an ongoing federal civil rights lawsuit by current and former USD497 students, who claim the software violates student’s constitutional rights.

The district has not publicly announced the switch to Managed Methods, a software seemingly similar to Gaggle. According to the Managed Methods website, it uses a cloud monitoring system to scan student content and report various safety concerns. According to Lawrence Times’ reporting, Managed Methods tracks the same digital spaces as Gaggle, but also monitors student’s browser history. Additionally, it does not use humans in the process of evaluating student content, unlike Gaggle.

Lawrence High School administration declined to comment on the situation.

The switch occurred despite this year being set to be the third year of the three-year contract the district had signed with Gaggle for $162,000.

According to the USD 497 October monthly voucher, the district paid $14,790 to Managed Methods Inc. this is the only public documentation of the switch to Managed Methods. In the email to the Lawrence Times, Swift cited the savings of about $35,000 as the reason for the new program.  

In the most recent court filings in the lawsuit facing the district over the Gaggle software, the district filed a partial motion to dismiss plaintiffs claims, citing the district’s decision to cease use of Gaggle. The filings do not name a replacement software.

The Budget will continue reporting based on public records and what happens in court.