Districts are piloting AI for operational efficiency while also crafting governance frameworks. Austin ISD deployed generative AI to build master schedules across 33 secondary campuses, saving roughly $2,600 per campus by optimizing teacher loads and reducing redundancies. The tool flagged capacity gaps and enabled more efficient teacher assignment. In contrast, Cajon Valley Union School District spent 10 weeks co‑designing an AI policy with students, teachers, unions and parents to establish guardrails for instructional use. The district emphasized human oversight and a phased adoption that balanced innovation with equity and safety. Higher‑education leaders and K‑12 partners should watch both models: operational AI can yield immediate budget savings, while collaborative policy development reduces legal and equity risks when AI is used for assessment or personnel decisions.