The Board approved the county board of education supplement and transfer requests for the 1998-99 year as follows:

For the Months of February and March 1999

Total Supplements $33,753,664

Total Transfers $18,890,925 (Attachment M.)

Board members were provided an update on Project CATS: Coordinated and Thematic Science. (Attachment Mc.)

Board members were provided an update on Education First: Our Future Depends on it. (Attachment N.)

Board members were provided an update on Reading for All. (Attachment O.)

Board members were provided an update on Mingo County. (Attachment P.)

Board members were provided an update on the instructional technology projects in West Virginia. (Attachment Q.)

Board members were provided an update on administrative technology projects in West Virginia. (Attachment R.)

The American Institute for Research recently released a report that studied 24 different educational reform initiatives. The report reveals that only three of the educational reforms have evidence of positive effect on students achievement. High Schools That Work was one of the three programs and was the only program that had positive data on student achievement at the secondary level. A summary of the report is attached. (Attachment S.)

The Board approved the personnel items for the West Virginia Department of Education and West Virginia Schools for the Deaf and the Blind as listed in Attachment T and addendum.

VII.

The Fayette County Comprehensive Educational Facilities Plan (CEFP), approved by the West Virginia Board of Education on November 30, 1990, contains a provision for the closure of Page and Pax Elementary Schools. Students from Page Elementary in grades K-4 will transfer to Oak Hill Elementary School; those students from Mulberry and Beards Fork will have a choice of attending Oak Hill Elementary School or Valley Elementary School. Students from Pax K-4 will attend Mount Hope Elementary School and students in grades 5-6 will attend Mount Hope Middle School.

Upon motion by J. D. Morris, second by Michael D. Greer, the Board approved the closure/consolidation of Page and Pax Elementary Schools and transfer of students at the end of the 1998-99 school year.

VIII.

The Monongalia County Comprehensive Educational Facilities Plan, approved by the West Virginia Board of Education on November 30, 1990, contains a provision to close Central and Wiles Hill Elementary Schools and to close/reconfigure Summers and Cool Springs Elementary Schools. Cool Springs will become a PK-2 facility and Summers Elementary School will become

a 3-5 facility, eliminating split grades in both schools.

Upon motion by Cleo P. Mathews, second by Michael D. Greer, the Board tabled action on the closure of Central and Wiles Hill Elementary Schools until May 1999.

Upon motion by Paul J. Morris, second by Michael D. Greer, the Board approved the closure/reconfiguration of Summers and Cool Springs Elementary Schools at the end of the 1998-99 school year.

IX.

Kim Nuzum-Lawrence and Fernando Ibanez demonstrated the Department's "new and improved" web page that has been redesigned and upgraded to better provide information and data to the public as well as the education community.

X.

Bill Luff provided the Board with the Legislative Update.

XI.

Upon motion by Jim L. McKnight, second by J. D. Morris, the Board tabled action regarding the transportation of Pendleton County students to Grant County, directed that Policy 7212 be studied for possible modification, and cautioned that no action be approved on this issue that would take effect prior to the beginning of the 99-00 school year.

XII.

As of Fall 1996, all tests that are part of the West Virginia professional licensure requirements are part of the Praxis Testing Series which is published and administered by Educational Testing Service. The testing program consists of three types of tests: Pre-Professional Skills Tests in reading, writing and mathematics (either in paper-and-pencil or computer based format), content specialization tests and the Principles of Learning and Teaching tests.

Last February, the West Virginia Board of Education raised the passing score on 18 tests. Before the Board is a proposal to raise the passing score on 12 additional tests.

This item was included in the February 1999 Board agenda but was deferred to the March 1999 session.

Upon motion by Michael D. Greer, second by Jim L. McKnight, the Board approved raising the passing scores on 12 additional tests. (Attachment AA.)

XIII.

This policy provides that county school systems must develop a policy requiring high school principals to release the names and addresses of graduating seniors to armed services recruiters.

The proposed revision changes "graduating seniors" to "students who have completed one semester of their junior year."

Upon motion by Jim L. McKnight, second by Michael D. Greer, the Board placed revised Policy 4350.1 on public comment until May 21, 1999, with action anticipated at the June Board meeting. (Attachment BB.)

XIV.

Policy 5310 was placed on public comment in January. Over 200 comments were received. Many of the comments from teachers expressed displeasure with the new rating categories and the elimination of Phase II (self assessment). However, several teachers and administrators support the proposed changes and welcome the opportunity to recognize quality teaching.

As a result of comments received, additional amendments are being proposed that warrant placing the policy on public comment for an additional 30 days. These substantive changes include: elimination of the "below standards" rating category resulting in four rather than five rating categories; identification of indicators for the "exemplary" and "exceeds standards" rating categories; and language that phases the policy in over a two-year period. Minor editorial changes have been made to reflect consistent language throughout the policy.

Upon motion by Sandra M. Chapman, second by Cleo P. Mathews, the Board placed revised Policy 5310 on public comment until May 15, 1999. (Attachment CC.)

XV.

State Board Policy 5050 creates the Commission for Professional Teaching Standards and defines its membership. Membership terms are three (3) years in length; however, for the first year of operation some terms were set at one (1) year, some for two (2) years, and some for three (3) years. The terms of those members initially appointed to one year terms are up June 30^th.

Those members with one year terms who are eligible for reappointment by the State Board are:

Louis Capaldini Business/community member

J. Dale Lee Special education teacher member

Robert Robinson Teacher member

L. Victoria Smith Teacher member

Cleo Mathews State Board member

Upon motion by Paul J. Morris, second by Sheila M. Hamilton, the Board approved reappointment of the listed members for three year terms running from July 1, 1999 to June 30, 2002.

XVI.

These principles of operation were originally adopted in 1990 and were revised in September 1993. They govern the approval by the Training Standards Review Committee of programs for which county board of education members can receive credit to meet the statutory requirement of W.Va. Code §18-5-1a.

The major change to the procedure is the creation within the committee of a "subcommittee a" charged with the responsibility of reviewing all requests for approval of training. The subcommittee's decision on approval/non-approval will be final unless reversed by the full committee.

Upon motion by Jim L. McKnight, second by J. D. Morris, the Board approved the procedures of operation. (Attachment DD.)

XVII.

The membership of the West Virginia Secondary School Activities Commission is proposing changes to the rules and regulations that govern interscholastic activities for all member schools in West Virginia.

Upon motion by J. D. Morris, second by Sheila M. Hamilton, the Board placed the proposed revisions on public comment until May 21, 1999. (Attachment EE.)

XVIII.

J. D. Morris, Chair of the Superintendent Search Committee, announced that an organizational meeting is to be scheduled within the next four to six weeks.

XIX.

The next regular meeting of the West Virginia Board of Education will be held on May 13, 1999, in Hardy County, West Virginia.

XX.

Upon motion by Cleo P. Mathews, second by Michael D. Greer, the Board adjourned at approximately 4:45 p.m.

Minutes approved by the Board on May 13, 1999.

James J. MacCallum, President

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