MINUTES

WEST VIRGINIA BOARD OF EDUCATION

at

Clay County High School

One Panther Drive

Clay, West Virginia

September 14, 2000

I.

President J. D. Morris called the meeting of the West Virginia Board of Education to order at 8:32 a.m. on September 14, 2000, in the auditorium at Clay County High School, One Panther Drive, Clay, West Virginia. Members present were Vice-President Jim Mc Knight, Secretary Sandra M. Chapman, Sheila M. Hamilton, James J. MacCallum, Paul J. Morris, Ronald B. Spencer, Gary G. White, and ex officios David L. Stewart and John Thralls. Member absent: Cleo P. Mathews.

II.

Mr. Jerry A. Linkinoggor, Clay County Superintendent of Schools, welcomed the Board to Clay County.

III.

Sharon Hemmings, Community Development Coordinator at Riverside High School, addressed the Board regarding facility conditions found during a recent visit to the school.

IV.

Upon motion by Gary G. White, second by Jim Mc Knight, the Board approved the agenda with the following changes:

page 4, immediately before "C. Routine Business", add: 6. Monongalia County CEFP and 7. Cabell County CEFP.

page 11, under "Miscellaneous", after A., add: B. State Board Representative to West Virginia Secondary School Activities Commission and C. Executive Session.

V.

Dr. Seal reported that, due to the requirements of the Agreed Order in Tomblin v. Gainer, Policy 2320 requires modification. The revised policy will be brought to the Board in October for action.

VI.

A random and unannounced education performance audit was conducted in the Logan County School System. All schools in Logan County were evaluated by members of the on-site review team. The county submitted revised County and School Unified Improvement Plans for noncompliances identified by the education performance audit team.

Based on the performance data, results of the education performance audit, and revised County and School Unified Improvement Plans, it was recommended that the Logan County School System be issued Conditional Approval status, two (2) schools be granted Full Accreditation status, and twenty (20) schools be issued Conditional Accreditation status.

Upon motion by Gary G. White, second by James J. MacCallum, the Board issued the Logan County school system Conditional Approval status, granted two (2) Logan County schools Full Accreditation status, and issued twenty (20) Logan County schools Conditional Accreditation status. (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment A.)

VII.

A request for appropriation was made to implement the additional requirements of the Office of Education Performance Audits by the Tomblin v. Gainer Court Order of August 1, 2000.

Upon motion by James J. MacCallum, second by Paul J. Morris, the Board approved the FY 2002 Request for Appropriation and directed that it be given priority in the State Board's Improvement Package. (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment B.)

VIII.

The Board was provided the 2000 Annual Report which is the second report compiling accountability activities. This report synthesizes the activities of the Office of Education Performance Audits as established by the West Virginia Legislature and the West Virginia Board of Education.

Upon motion by Paul J. Morris, second by Sheila M. Hamilton, the Board accepted the report. (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment C.)

IX.

The Board was provided the Strategic Plan FY2001 Report which outlines the goals, objectives, and activities of the Office of Education Performance Audits as established by the West Virginia Legislature and West Virginia Board of Education.

Upon motion by James J. MacCallum, second by Ronald B. Spencer, the Board accepted the Strategic Plan for fiscal year 2001. (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment D.)

X.

Upon motion by Sandra M. Chapman, second by Paul J. Morris, the Board approved consent agenda items as amended and as recommended. (Copies appended to Official Minutes, Attachments E-U and addenda.)

The Jackson County Board of Education requested approval of an amendment to its CEFP as it did not contain a provision for construction of an auxiliary gymnasium at Ripley High School, addition of two bathrooms at the Ravenswood High School Gymnasium and the expansion of the kitchen at Ripley Middle School. Local revenues will be used in completing all of the listed projects.

The McDowell County Board of Education requested approval of an amendment to its CEFP as it did not contain a provision for changing the configuration of several proposed schools. This amendment changes the proposed new Switchback Elementary from a PreK-5 school to PreK-8 school. The proposed new Anawalt/Gary Elementary School for grades PreK-5 changes to PreK-8 school. The proposed Welch area middle school changes from a school for grades 6-8 from Welch Middle, Northfork Middle, Anawalt, Gary, Kimball, Switchback, Fall River, and Welch Elementaries to a Welch area middle school for grades 6-8 from Welch Middle, Fall River, Kimball, and Welch Elementaries.

The Marion County Board of Education requested approval of an amendment to its CEFP as it did not contain provisions for the following: closing Dunbar and Miller Schools and consolidating these two schools into a newly constructed middle/junior high school; renovation of Fairmont Senior High School and construction of additional classrooms.

The Greenbrier County Board of Education requested approval of an amendment to its CEFP as it did not contain a provision for changing the configuration of Greenbrier East High School from grades 10-12 to 9-12 and Eastern Greenbrier Junior High School from grades 7-9 to 6-8.

West Virginia Code §18-9D-16 requires all local boards of education to submit a ten year Comprehensive Educational Facilities Plan (CEFP) to the West Virginia Board of Education and the School Building Authority of West Virginia for approval. The facilities plans for 14 counties have been reviewed by the staff of the School Building Authority and the Office of School Facilities for compliance with Policy 6200 and the SBA Guidelines and Procedures Handbook and were recommended for approval.

Cabell County Greenbrier County Hancock County

Jefferson County Kanawha County Marion County

Mason County Mineral County Monroe County

Nicholas County Putnam County Raleigh County

Randolph County Tyler County Wetzel County

The Monongalia County Board of Education requested approval of an amendment to its CEFP as it did not contain a provision for the closing of Waitman Barbe, Westover, Riverside and Arnettsville Schools and the construction of one PreK-5 school to accommodate 800 students. (Attachment F.)

The Cabell County Board of Education requested approval of an amendment to its CEFP as it did not contain a provision for the installation of a modular classroom at Peyton Elementary School for the 2000-2001 school year. This classroom will not house special education students and will contain a restroom. (Attachment F.)

Board members were provided an update on activities of the HVAC technicians. (Attachment H.)

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

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

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

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

Board members were provided an update on Lincoln County. (Attachment N.)

The Board approved seven (7) waiver requests, approved the continuation of four (4) previously approved waiver requests, and denied two (2) waiver requests. (Attachment O.)

The Board approved three (3) waiver requests. (Attachment P.)

As of August 25, 2000, the Department of Education had received a total of 122 applications for Operation Recognition in connection with Policy 4355: High School Diplomas for Veterans. The approved applications have been signed by Mr. J. D. Morris on behalf of the State Board and forwarded to the appropriate county to process the diploma. (Attachment Q.)

West Virginia School Boards Association/West Virginia Department of

Education Training Standards Review Committee

In compliance with W.Va. Code §18-2E-4 and §18-5-1a, the Board was presented the West Virginia County Board Members' Credit Hours of Training - Final Report for 1999-2000. This report presents a summary of training hours county board members received in 1999-2000. (Attachment R.)

Jane McBride, Superintendent of the West Virginia Schools for the Deaf and the Blind, presented the Annual Report to the Board. (Attachment S.)

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

An executive summary of the State Administrative Expenses (SAE) Plan for Child Nutrition programs for 2001 was presented. State Board approval allowed the plan to be submitted to the United States Department of Agriculture. The FY 2001 Plan required no comment period. (Attachment U.)

XI.

Bill Luff distributed and discussed a document entitled "Schools Selected for Technical Assistance 2000-2001 - September 13, 2000." (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment V.)

XII.

The Agreed Order in Tomblin v. Gainer requires the convening of six committees to work on issues involving testing, vocational curriculum offerings, science facilities, foreign language teacher shortages, limitations on art and music programs, and teacher shortages generally.

The State Board has one designee on five of the committees and four designees on the committee dealing with testing. Recommended designees were presented to the State Board at the meeting for approval.

Upon motion by Jim Mc Knight, second by James J. MacCallum, the Board approved the designees to the six committees, reserving the right to appoint Ms. Mathews. (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment W.)

XIII.

Bill Luff discussed the West Virginia Staff Development Advisory Council report regarding professional development needs and goals for 2001-2002. (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment X.)

XIV.

Policy 2450 was initially passed in 1989 to address traditional distance learning programs. Changes were proposed to: 1) incorporate virtual classes, online and other technology-delivered distance learning options; and 2) address SB 584, West Virginia Virtual School legislation passed March 11, 2000, effective July 1, 2000.

Changes and updates to Policy 2450 were proposed based on: 1) the recommendation of the review committee; 2) documentation from the Southern Regional Education Board (SREB); 3) the guideline and procedures recommendations developed by the 52 West Virginia teachers who participated in the 1999 Curriculum Technology Resource Center (CTRC) Going the Distance seminar; and 4) the discussion session regarding virtual schooling held with the State Board of Education on June 8, 2000.

The comment period ended on August 25, 2000, and comments were received from four people. The comments did result in changes relating to: 1) the use of the word "virtual" and 2) clarification of instructional materials (textbook) adoption utilization.

Upon motion by James J. MacCallum, second by Jim Mc Knight, the Board approved Policy 2450. (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment Y.)

XV.

Currently, seven schools have been issued Seriously Impaired (SI) status by the State Board. Improvement consultant teams are required to be appointed to assist schools in improving their status. A chart showing improvement consultant teams for the seven schools may be found in the attachment. The State Board previously approved a team for Powellton Elementary. Six additional schools were issued SI status at either the July or August Board meetings.

Upon motion by Sheila M. Hamilton, second by Paul J. Morris, the Board approved the improvement consultant teams, with modification (removal of Cindy Willis of Clay County) for the six newly identified schools. (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment Z.)

XVI.

As required by approved motion at the July 2000 State Board meeting, the State Superintendent and the Lincoln County Superintendent developed a set of standards that must be met before full control of the school system will be returned to the Lincoln County Board of Education.

The standards are based on the deficiencies found in the on-site review reports from the Office of Education Performance Audits and the recommendations provided to Lincoln County in November 1999. Upon approval, the standards will be communicated to the Lincoln County Board of Education. Both Superintendent Grizzell and Assistant Superintendent Larry Lohan were in attendance.

Upon motion by James J. MacCallum, second by Sandra M. Chapman, the Board approved the standards that must be met before full control of the school system can be returned to the Lincoln County Board of Education.. (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment AA.)

XVII.

West Virginia Code §18-2-23a requires that the State Board, on or before October 1 of each year, to set professional development goals for the public schools of the state. The Board has previously set goals in 1998 and 1999.

Upon motion by Paul J. Morris, second by Sandra M. Chapman, the Board approved continuation of the eight professional development goals as approved in 1999. (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment BB.)

XVIII.

Mr. Morris announced the schedule of meetings for year 2001 as identified in the attachment. (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment CC.)

XIX.

House Bill 4414, passed by the West Virginia Legislature during the 2000 session, provides that county boards of education may, under certain prescribed circumstances, hire up to 25 "prospective employable professional personnel." Unless the current year enrollment is 100 students more than the enrollment four years earlier, a county may only hire prospective employable professional personnel under a waiver granted by the State Board. The proposed rules mirror the language of the statute. Based on prior net enrollment figures, it appears that only one county would qualify on the basis of increased enrollment. Other county systems would have to use a waiver process.

Upon motion by James J. MacCallum, second by Jim Mc Knight, the Board approved Policy 5103 to be placed on public comment until October 20, 2000 for action at the November meeting. (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment DD.)

XX.

During the summer of 2000, the Office of Professional Preparation conducted eight regional supply and demand fact-finding forums. As a result of these dialogues, changes were proposed to Policy 5100. The changes are designed to help alleviate shortages in special education to accommodate the augmentation of the preschool curriculum with services provided by music, art, and physical education specialists, and to better reflect national trends and West Virginia programs in administrative specializations.

Upon motion by Paul J. Morris, second by Sheila M. Hamilton, the Board approved Policy 5100 to be placed on public comment until October 17, 2000. (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment EE.)

XXI.

The West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources (DHHR) requested that the Department of Education provide educational services at the West Virginia Children's Home in Elkins, West Virginia. The West Virginia Children's Home is a 25-bed residential foster care treatment center for youth in state custody operated by DHHR. DHHR will provide the funds to the Department for the staffing and operation of the education program. West Virginia Code §18-2-13h authorizes the State Board to enter into agreements with the DHHR to provide adequate and appropriate educational opportunities for school-age juveniles placed in residential facilities for custody and treatment. In this regard, an agreement has been developed to permit the Department's Office of Institutional Education programs to provide educational services at the West Virginia Children's Home.

Upon motion by Jim Mc Knight, second by Gary G. White, the Board approved the agreement for the provision of educational services at the West Virginia Children's Home. (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment FF.)

XXII.

With the assistance of the West Virginia Division of Forestry, the Cedar Lakes Conference Center has been developing a Forest Stewardship plan for the 229 forested acres that are currently underutilized. The forested areas have great potential to increase utilization at the Cedar Lakes Conference Center in the following areas: 1) opportunities for recreational development would be increased (examples: cross-country trails, horseback riding trails, ADA accessible trails, etc.); 2) educational opportunities would be available (examples: outdoor classrooms, research possibilities, wildlife areas, examples of successful forest stewardship, etc.); 3) fire protection would be greatly increased; and, 4) a comprehensive forest stewardship plan would be in effect. The proposed plan will increase the utilization of Cedar Lakes which will result in additional revenues.

The Board approved the plan for further development. (Copy appended to Official Minutes GG and addendum.)

Dr. Sponaugle announced that West Virginia is one of seven states to receive a Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP) grant. The state will receive $10.4 million dollars over the next five years to improve the college going rate.

XXIII.

Kim Lawrence announced that: 1) forum posters and fliers have gone out to the schools; 2) an insert regarding the forums will be distributed with the September issue of State Ed; 3) online information, registration, and a community poll are all available on the Department's home page. Karen Larry announced that approximately 40 Department staff members will assist with the forums and met last week for training. Two sessions will be conduct with Department staff prior to going out into the field. Members of the Board indicated they would like to see results, by region, of the community poll.

XXIV.

Mr. Morris announced that he must resign as the Board's representative to Secondary School Activities Commission and requested that Ronald B. Spencer be appointed.

Upon motion by Gary G. White, second by James J. MacCallum, the Board appointed Ronald B. Spencer as the Board's representative to the Secondary Schools Activities Commission.

XXV.

Dr. John Thralls addressed the Board.

XXVI.

Upon motion by Gary G. White, second by Jim Mc Knight, the Board, by unanimous affirmative vote, and in accordance with the provisions of W.Va. Code §§6- 9A-1, 6-9A-4, 6-9A-3 and 6-9A-5, went into Executive Session at 10:34 a.m. to discuss personnel issues. Upon return from Executive Session at 10:52 a.m., President Morris reported that there were no deliberations and no decisions were made and no action was taken.

XXVII.

The next regular meeting of the West Virginia Board of Education will be held October12, 2000 in Grant County, West Virginia.

XXVIII.

Upon motion by Gary G. White, second by Paul J. Morris, the Board adjourned at approximately 10:53 a .m.

Minutes approved by the Board on October 12, 2000.

_____________________________________________

J. D. Morris, President

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