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Western New York School District Hits Pause on Robot Teacher Amid Scrutiny

The district announced the pause hours after the State Education Department sent it a letter expressing concerns about the plan, which New York Focus first reported on last week.

Melissa Manno   ·   July 24, 2026
Salamanca City Central School District announced in a Facebook post on July 24, 2026 that its pilot project with tech company Realbotix has been put on hold. | Underlying image courtesy of Realbotix; Screenshot: Salamanca City Central School District / Facebook; Letter: State Education Department | Illustration: Kyle Constable

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A Western New York school district has halted its plans to place a humanoid robot in a classroom after a New York Focus report on the plan sparked fierce debate over the use of artificial intelligence in schools and backlash from local parents. 

Salamanca City Central School District announced in a Facebook post Friday afternoon that its pilot project with tech company Realbotix has been put on hold as school officials “work through enhanced student data privacy agreements” with the state education agency and engage with community members. 

A Facebook post from the Salamanca Central School District announcing that its project with Realbotix is currently on hold "while we work through enhanced student data privacy agreements with the New York State Education Department and continue engaging with our community and stakeholders."
In a Facebook post on July 24, 2026, the Salamanca Central School District announces that its project with Realbotix is currently on hold. | Screenshot: Salamanca City Central School District / Facebook

 

The news comes hours after state Education Commissioner Betty Rosa sent a letter informing Salamanca Superintendent Mark Beehler that “the Department remains concerned about  the effect that a humanoid robot may have within a high school classroom.” According to the letter, the department met with the district to discuss the robot plan earlier this week. 

“Many parents, teachers, and stakeholders are understandably concerned about the presence of artificial intelligence technology in classrooms, particularly when it involves robots that resemble humans,” Rosa wrote.

The district had agreed to purchase the robot and an artificial intelligence teacher’s assistant program that allowed students to interact with an avatar of the robot on laptops at a board meeting last month. The district paid $57,590 for the products and planned to introduce them to high school students this fall. 

Salamanca and Realbotix could not immediately be reached for comment.

This is a developing story.

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Melissa Manno is a reporter at New York Focus, covering the state’s school system and education politics. She was previously an education reporter for the San Antonio Express-News, where she reported on discipline, special education, school funding and other issues impacting students in… more
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