MINUTES

WEST VIRGINIA BOARD OF EDUCATION

at

West Virginia University

National Research Center for Coal and Energy Building

Assembly Rooms A & B

Morgantown, West Virginia

July 15, 1999

I.

President James J. MacCallum called the regular meeting of the West Virginia Board of Education to order at 8:57 a.m. on July 15, 1999 in West Virginia University's National Research Center for Coal and Energy Building, Assembly Rooms A & B located in Morgantown, West Virginia. Members present were Vice President Gary G. White, Secretary Cleo P. Mathews, Sandra M. Chapman, Sheila M. Hamilton, Jim L. McKnight, J. D. Morris, and Paul J. Morris.

II.

Upon motion by Cleo P. Mathews, second by Jim L. McKnight, the Board approved the minutes of the June 10 joint meeting with the Mingo County Board of Education and the June 10 regular meeting, as submitted.

III.

Upon motion by Gary G. White, second by Sandra M. Chapman, the Board approved the agenda with the following additions:

Under Miscellaneous add 1) discussion of consultant services for assessment plan, 2) update on Superintendent Search activities, and 3) discussion of consultant services for statewide coordinated staff development plan.

IV.

Two National Service Learning Award schools were recognized: the West Virginia Schools for the Deaf and the Blind and the West Virginia Department of Education at the Elkins Mountain School.

V.

Board members heard from the following delegations: Theresa Boltralik, a Monongalia County parent, regarding criteria used in determining the accreditation status of K-2 schools; Carol Webb, West Virginia Agriculture Teachers Association, regarding science credit for agriculture education; Lindy Judy, Pendleton County parent, regarding Pendleton County student transfers and Dorothy Bennett, also of Pendleton County, regarding transportation of students from Pendleton to Grant County and the availability of state funds to assist in the maintenance of the privately owned and operated bus.

VI.

Upon motion by Jim L. McKnight, second by Sandra M. Chapman, the Board approved all consent agenda items as amended and as recommended. (Copies appended to Official Minutes. Attachments B-N and addenda.)

The Board approved Jackson County Board of Education's request to amend its CEFP. (Attachment B.)

The Board approved Kanawha County Board of Education's request to amend its CEFP. (Attachment C.)

The Board approved Mingo County Board of Education's request to amend its CEFP. (Attachment D.)

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

For the month of June 1999

Total Supplements $64,240,300

Total Transfers $44,039,540 (Attachment E.)

The Board approved all 55 Step 7 Plans for the 1999-2000 year. (Attachment F.)

The Board approved twelve (12) waivers and disapproved one (1) waiver. (Attachment G and Addendum.)

The Board approved one (1) additional application for 1999 summer school. (Attachment H.)

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

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

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

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

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

Board members were provided an update on Office of Healthy Schools activities. (Attachment Mc.)

The Board approved the personnel items for the West Virginia Department of Education as listed in Attachment N and addendum.

VII.

Board members were provided a report on SAT-9 testing results for 1999. (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment O.)

VIII.

Board members were provided information regarding the West Virginia High Technology Consortium and invited to observe training sessions.

IX.

Board members were provided information regarding a number of issues facing today's classroom teacher.

X.

Policy 2419 implements federal and state laws governing the education of students with exceptionalities. The revised policy incorporates new and revised requirements in the Individuals

with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) Amendments of 1997 and the final federal regulations issued by the United States Department of Education on March 12, 1999.

The policy was placed on comment from May 17, 1999 through June 25, 1999, during which time 491 responses were received. A summary of changes resulting from the comments is contained in the Executive Summary attached to the policy.

Upon motion by Gary G. White, second by Cleo P. Mathews, the Board approved Policy 2419 with the understanding that the caseload section of said policy will, upon the first day following the effective date, be placed on public comment for 60 days. (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment P.)

XI.

Policy 4350 governs the protection of privacy and access of parents and students in the collection, maintenance, disclosure, and destruction of education records by agencies and institutions under the general supervision of the Board. The revised policy incorporates the Federal Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), as amended.

The policy was placed on comment from May 17, 1999 through June 25, 1999, during which time one positive comment was received. No changes were made as a result of comments.

Upon motion by Gary G. White, second by Cleo P. Mathews, the Board approved Policy 4350. (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment Q.)

XII.

The Anti-Hazing Policy (2425) was developed as required by legislation passed in 1999. The policy provides a definition and examples of hazing and penalties for students who engage in such activities. The policy also requires county boards of education to develop procedures to investigate alleged hazing activities.

The policy was placed on comment from June 11, 1999 through July 12, 1999, during which time three responses were received. Only minor changes in the definition of hazing were made to the policy.

Upon motion by Gary G. White, second by Sheila M. Hamilton, the Board approved Policy 2425. (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment R and addendum.)

XIII.

Policy 5301 is being revised to reflect the changes made to W.Va. Code §18A-4-8a during the 1999 Legislative session. It provides an additional $10 per month salary increase to service personnel who have attained twenty-four, thirty-six and forty-eight hours of college or comparable training in a trade or vocational school.

The policy was placed on comment from May 17, 1999 through June 18, 1999, during which time five responses were received. The requirement that the training be related to current or anticipated employment was reinstated. Several other minor changes were made.

Upon motion by Gary G. White, second by J. D. Morris, the Board approved Policy 5301. (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment S.)

XIV.

Policy 6201 was developed to minimize the use of carpet in public schools. The policy was placed on comment from June 11, 1999 through July 12, 1999, during which time one response was received. No change was made to the policy.

Upon motion by Gary G. White, second by Sheila M. Hamilton, the Board approved Policy 6201. (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment T.)

XV.

Policy 5310 was approved by the State Board at the May 1999 meeting. Subsequently, it was discovered that three words were incorrectly placed in or omitted from the version of the approved

policy as it was filed with the Secretary of State's office.

In both sections 8.1.1 and 8.1.2 the word "and" was incorrectly typed into the final version as "and/or". The policy included only the word "and" when it was placed on comment and as it was approved by the State Board.

In section 12.1, the word "whose" was omitted from a sentence. Again, the word "whose" was in the policy as it was placed on comment and as it was approved by the State Board.

These three technical corrections could not be made without the policy being placed on comment again.

Upon motion by Gary G. White, second by Sheila M. Hamilton, the Board approved Policy 5310 for placement on public comment until August 20, 1999, for action at the September meeting. (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment U.)

XVI.

At its May 1999 session, Barbara Brazeau, Assistant Director, Office of Professional Preparation, presented to the West Virginia Board of Education a number of proposed changes to the Board's licensure policy (5202). The proposed changes were in the form of a matrix that identified the change and the stance of the West Virginia Commission for Professional Teaching Standards as well as the West Virginia Department of Education. The State Board endorsed the Department's position on most of the listed issues.

Attached is the revised policy that reflects the Board's previously endorsed positions. The Executive Summary provides a listing of the proposed changes.

Upon motion by Gary G. White, second by J. D. Morris, the Board approved Policy 5202 for placement on public comment until September 17, 1999, for action at the October meeting. (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment V.)

XVII.

During the 1999 session, the West Virginia Legislature passed legislation to provide financial support to public school classroom teachers who participate in the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) Certification Program. To the extent that money is appropriated for this program, the legislation creates a reimbursement program for a maximum of 100 classroom teachers who enroll in and/or complete the NBPTS Certification Program annually and a $1,000.00 annual bonus and a maximum of $600.00 in reimbursement for actual expenses for the teachers who

achieve NBPTS Certification. The proposed policy recommends that the reimbursement program for the 100 teachers would be on a first come-first served basis.

Attachment W is the proposed policy that reflects the provisions of the legislation as passed by the West Virginia Legislature.

Upon motion by Gary G. White, second by Sheila M. Hamilton, the Board approved Policy 5203 for placement on public comment until September 28, 1999, for action at the October meeting. (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment W.)

XVIII.

As provided by teacher education Policy 5100, the West Virginia Program Review Board, at its May 3, 1999 session, reviewed and recommended approval for West Virginia State College's proposal for a teacher education program in Specific Learning Disabilities (grades K-6 and 5-12) and for Alderson-Broaddus College's proposal for a Health Education Program (grades K-12). A curriculum summary sheet that lists required courses and tests is provided for each proposed program in the attachment.

Upon motion by Gary G. White, second by Jim L. McKnight, the Board approved the proposed programs in Special Learning Disabilities and Health Education until the institution's next state review of its teacher education programs. (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment XYZ.)

XIX.

An executive summary and revision of the Policies of Operation Manual are attached. Revisions are required to bring the policy in line with regulatory changes in the school nutrition programs. Approval will allow the Department to assist counties in compliance with United States Department of Agriculture guidelines.

Upon motion by Sheila M. Hamilton, second by Cleo P. Mathews, the Board approved Policy 4320 for placement on public comment until August 20, 1999, for action at the September meeting. (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment AA.)

XX.

The West Virginia School Transportation Regulations have not been revised and updated for several years and are out-of-date. A committee was formed to carefully review and revise Policy 4336 to make it comply with the Safe Schools Act and other practices that have changed over the years.

Upon motion by Jim L. McKnight, second by Sandra M. Chapman, the Board approved Policy 4336 for placement on public comment until August 20, 1999, for action at the September meeting. (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment BB.)

XXI.

W.Va. Code §18-9D-16h directs the West Virginia Board of Education to inspect all schools that were constructed or where major renovations have occurred that were funded in whole or in part by the School Building Authority of West Virginia. The Board was provided a report on schools that have been inspected by the Office of School Transportation and Facilities.

Upon motion by Cleo P. Mathews, second by Gary G. White, the Board accepted and approved the Office of School Transportation and Facilities, Inspection of Schools report. (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment CC.)

XXII.

W.Va. Code §18-2E-8d provides that a student, in consultation with his/her parents and school advisor, may take higher level courses, advanced placement courses, college courses or other more rigorous courses in lieu of required courses in a required major or recommended elective course as specified in the high school's program of studies. In order to implement this provision of the Code, the State Board of Education is to establish a uniform Parental Consent Form to be signed by the parents and school advisor and maintained in the student's permanent records.

Attached to the recommended consent form are course substitution guidelines that will be distributed to county and school personnel.

Upon motion by Gary G. White, second by Paul J. Morris, the Board approved the Parental Consent Form for Course Substitution(s) in the Major and Recommended Electives. (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment DD.)

XXIII.

The State Board's role in the development of the assessment plan must be clarified prior to making any decisions regarding the release of an RFP for a consultant. Gary G. White proposed that an official inquiry be made to the Legislative Sub-Committee requesting clarification. Upon receipt of the requested clarification the Board will proceed as necessary. This plan of action was agreed upon by all Board members.

The Board was provided an update of Superintendent Search activities.

Action on this item was deferred to the August meeting as the Department will have additional information/research available for review.

XIV.

Upon motion by Gary G. White, second by J. D. Morris, Cleo P. Mathews was nominated to serve as President. Upon motion by Jim L. McKnight, second by Sandra M. Chapman, the Board, by unanimous vote, closed the nominations. Upon motion by Gary G. White, second by Paul J. Morris, the Board, by acclamation. elected Cleo P. Mathews as President.

Upon motion by J. D. Morris, second by Sandra M. Chapman, Gary G. White was nominated to serve as Vice President. Upon motion by Jim L. McKnight, second by Paul J. Morris, the Board, by unanimous vote, closed the nominations. Upon motion by Paul J. Morris, second by Jim L. McKnight, the Board, by acclamation, elected Gary G. White as Vice President.

Upon motion by Jim L. McKnight, second by Sheila M. Hamilton, J. D. Morris was nominated to serve as Secretary. Upon motion by Sandra M. Chapman, second by Gary G. White, the Board, by acclamation, elected J. D. Morris as Secretary.

XXV.

The next regular meeting of the West Virginia Board of Education will be held on August 12, 1999, at the Snowshoe Mountain Resort in Pocahontas County, West Virginia.

XXVI.

Upon motion by James J. MacCallum, second by J. D. Morris, the Board adjourned at approximately 11:50 a.m.

Minutes approved by the Board on August 12, 1999.

Cleo P. Mathews, President