MINUTES

MINUTES

WEST VIRGINIA BOARD OF EDUCATION

at

Petersburg High School

207 Jefferson Avenue

Petersburg, West Virginia

October 12, 2000

I.

President J. D. Morris called the meeting of the West Virginia Board of Education to order at 8:32 a.m. on October 12, 2000, in the library at Petersburg High School, 207 Jefferson Avenue, Petersburg, West Virginia. Members present were Vice-President Jim Mc Knight, Secretary Sandra M. Chapman, Sheila M. Hamilton, Cleo P. Mathews, Ronald B. Spencer, and David L. Stewart. Members absent: James J. MacCallum, Paul J. Morris, Gary G. White and John Thralls.

II.

Ms. Marsha Carr-Lambert, Grant County Superintendent of Schools, welcomed the Board to Grant County.

President Morris presented Cleo P. Mathews a plaque in honor of her outstanding leadership as Board President during 1999-2000.

III.

John Bennett, Principal of Gilmer County High School, spoke to the Board regarding a waiver request for vocational (technical) students to receive full credit for mastery of goals and objectives with fewer than 8100 required minutes of instruction time. Bob Rentschler, Director, Calhoun-Gilmer Technical Center, was also in attendance. (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment A.)

Bob Myers, Cabell County, a former member and president of the State Board, spoke to the Board regarding the creation of an independent school district from an existing county school district (W.Va. Const. Art. XII, paragraph 10). Mr. Myers asked the Board to develop procedural guidelines for implementation. Mr. Morris responded that the Department's attorney is researching this matter.

IV.

Upon motion by Jim Mc Knight, second by Cleo P. Mathews, the Board approved the agenda as presented.

V.

A random and unannounced education performance audit was conducted in the Wyoming County School System and all schools 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 Wyoming County School System be issued Conditional Approval Status, seven (7) schools be granted Full Accreditation status, and nine (9) schools be issued Conditional Accreditation status with a Date Certain of October 31, 2001 for the county and the schools on the education performance audit noncompliances to achieve Full Accreditation.

Upon motion by Cleo P. Mathews, second by Sandra M. Chapman, the Board issued the Wyoming County school system Conditional Approval status, granted seven (7) Wyoming County schools Full Accreditation status, and issued nine (9) Wyoming County schools Conditional Accreditation status with a Date Certain of October 31, 2001 for the county and the schools on the education performance audit noncompliances to achieve Full Accreditation. (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment B.)

VI.

An on-site review of the Morgan County School System was conducted from April 26 - 28, 1999. An Education Performance Audit Team returned to Morgan County September 25 - 26, 2000. The purpose of the return team visit was to verify correction of the noncompliances identified during the original on-site review.

Based upon the performance data and results of the Follow-up Education Performance Audit, it was recommended that the Morgan County School System be granted Full Approval status and all Morgan County Schools be granted Full Accreditation status.

Upon motion by Sheila M. Hamilton, second by Cleo P. Mathews, the Board issued the Morgan County school system Full Approval status and all Morgan County schools Full Accreditation status. (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment C.)

VII.

House Bill 4674, passed during the 2000 regular session of the West Virginia Legislature, amended W.Va. Code '18-2E-5 which required major revisions of State Board Policy 2320. The legislation calls for indicators of efficiency, an exemplary school accreditation status, immediate State Board intervention in the operation of a county school system, and a performance measure for percentage of students enrolled in advanced placement or honors classes. Additionally, the Agreed Order in Tomblin v. Gainer signed August 1, 2000 requires that specific issues be included as a part of the accreditation and evaluation process. These include the identification of resource needs. The proposed revisions include the requirements of House Bill 4674 and the Agreed Order in Tomblin v. Gainer.

Dr. Seal suggested to the Board that the revised policy should be reviewed by the attorneys involved in Tomblin v. Gainer prior to placing it on comment. Mr. Morris tabled action on this item until November. A work session to review Policy 2320 is to be scheduled prior to the November regular meeting. (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment D.)

VIII.

Upon motion by Jim Mc Knight, second by Ronald B. Spencer, the Board approved consent agenda items as amended and as recommended. (Copies appended to Official Minutes, Attachments E-P and addenda.)

W.Va. 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 plan for Wyoming County was reviewed and recommended for approval 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.

For the Month of September 2000

Total Supplements = $39,758,428 Total Transfers = $6,513,511

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Board approved thirteen (13) waiver requests, approved the continuation of sixteen (16) previously approved waiver requests, and denied two (2) waiver requests. (Attachment Mc.)

The Board approved six (6) waiver requests. (Attachment N.)

As of September 25, 2000, the Department of Education had received an additional 28 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 O.)

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 P and addenda.

IX.

Ms. Mathews issued a concern regarding the report of the activities of the HVAC technicians. The Board's responsibility for school facility inspection and report of findings is of supreme importance to all concerned. If a problem is identified it must be reflected in the report in order to assure correction.

Upon motion by Cleo P. Mathews, second by Jim Mc Knight, the Board accepted the report of the HVAC Technicians. (Copy appended to the Official Minutes, Attachment Q.)

X.

The West Virginia Department of Education has been involved in an initiative called High Schools That Work in cooperation with the Southern Regional Education Board (SREB). The major goal for this initiative is to increase the achievement levels in math, science and reading of students in general and vocational studies at the high school level.

West Virginia currently has a total of 116 (77%) high schools and technical centers that are participating in the High Schools That Work initiative. The High Schools That Work National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) is given to twelfth grade students every two years to assess the progress that is being made by the High Schools That Work sites.

Attachment R provides information regarding the 2000 Assessment for the West Virginia High Schools that Work sites. (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment R.)

XI.

Dr. Pamela S. Cain, Assistant Superintendent of Instructional and Student Services, provided the Board an overview of the response as found in Attachment S. (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment S.)

XII.

West Virginia Board of Education Policy 5112, Athletic Trainers in the Public Schools of West Virginia, requires local boards of education to employ an athletic trainer to be in attendance at all high school football practices and games. Athletic trainers are recommended for middle/junior high school football programs. Policy 5112 provides for an Athletic Trainer Review Board to advise the State Board of Education in the granting of waivers to the policy when there is a lack of a fully certified trainer.

To provide added protection to the student athletes in West Virginia, the proposed changes to Policy 5112 will provide additional training for the paraprofessional serving as an athletic trainer. The West Virginia Secondary School Activities Commission will work with the West Virginia Board of Education to develop and administer mandated coursework for those making application for athletic trainer positions and lacking professional certification. It is anticipated that each section of the coursework will cost the student no more than $100.00.

Upon motion by Jim Mc Knight, second by Sheila M. Hamilton, the Board approved Policy 5112 to be placed on public comment until November 30, 2000 for action at the December meeting. (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment T.)

XIII.

W.Va. Code §18-5-22 requires that the Council of School Nurses meet every two years to review the certification and training program regarding school employees. The policy and procedure manual have been reviewed and several changes have been proposed.

Upon motion by Sheila M. Hamilton, second by Sandra M. Chapman, the Board approved Policy 2422.7 and the accompanying procedure manual to be placed on public comment until November 30, 2000 for action at the December meeting. (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment U.)

XIV.

The State Board approves the persons who will serve on the committee. The committee is charged with approving those programs for which county board of education members receive credit for purposes of meeting the statutory requirements for training. Board members J. D. Morris, Jim Mc Knight, and Paul J. Morris currently serve on the committee.

Upon motion by Ronald B. Spencer, second by Cleo P. Mathews, the Board approved the appointments as listed in the attachment and reappointed the Board members as listed above. (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment V.)

XV.

Kim Lawrence and Karen Larry announced that two training sessions were conducted with Department staff last week which were very successful and helped to refine the process. Pre-registration ranges from 40 to 80 at each site with attendance expected to reach or exceed 100 individuals per site. Meetings with the students will take place prior to the forums with student attendance at the forums welcome. Real-time online information from the forums will be available.

XVI.

The next regular meeting of the West Virginia Board of Education will be held November 9, 2000 in Charleston, West Virginia.

XVII.

Upon motion by Cleo P. Mathews, second by Sandra M. Chapman, the Board adjourned at approximately 10:38 a .m.

Minutes approved by the Board on November 9, 2000.

______________________________________________

J. D. Morris, President

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