I.

President Cleo P. Mathews called the meeting of the West Virginia Board of Education to order at 8:33 a.m. on May 11, 2000, in the Auditorium at Wyoming County East High School, New Richmond, West Virginia. Members present were Secretary J. D. Morris, Sandra M. Chapman, Sheila M. Hamilton, Jim L. McKnight, Paul J. Morris, and Ronald J. Spencer.

II.

Dr. Fred Harrington introduced this year's National Service Learning-Learning Leader Schools: Davis Stuart School and Morgantown High School. Accepting the award on behalf of Davis Stuart School was Mr. Jim Erwin and Nancy B. Colebank accepted on behalf of Morgantown High School.

Tony Smedley introduced this year's recipient of the Christa McAuliffe award: Theresa Bales. Ms. Bales, a teacher at Kimball Elementary in McDowell County, received a grant award in the amount of $28,500 for her project entitled ESTEEM (Experiences in Science and Technology Empower Exceptional Minds).

III.

Sharon Yates, Executive Director, S.A.F.E. (Stop Abusive Family Environments, Inc.), provided the Board a brief presentation regarding project S.A.F.E.

IV.

Superintendent Frank Blackwell and Principal Raymond Rose welcomed the Board to Wyoming County and particularly Wyoming County East High School. Jima Dunigan, Arch Coal Teacher Achievement Award Winner, and teacher at Huff Consolidated School, also welcomed the Board to Wyoming County.

V.

Upon motion by Jim L. McKnight, second by J. D. Morris, the Board approved the minutes of the April 13, 2000 meeting as submitted. (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment A.)

VI.

Upon motion by Paul J. Morris, second by Sheila M. Hamilton, the Board approved the agenda with the following correction and additions: under New Business, change item H to G, under Miscellaneous, add an Executive Session to discuss personnel matters and pending litigation, West Virginia Education Summit, completion of NASBE ballot, appointment of Board member to NASBE Healthy Schools Team, Efficiency Standards, and naming of building at Cedar Lakes.

VII.

Dr. Seal reported that Mingo County has been revisited and the report is being processed. A team is visiting Lincoln County this week and may need to return next week with a report to be available at the June meeting. Wyoming County has recently undergone review and the report is being compiled.

VIII.

County boards are required to ensure that any school issued temporary accreditation status revise its Unified School Improvement Plan to increase the performance of the school to full accreditation status level. The revised plan must include objectives, a time line, an evaluation component, cost estimates, and a date certain for achieving full accreditation. This plan must be submitted to the State Board for approval. One hundred twenty (120) plans were reviewed and acted upon previously by the State Board. Six (6) additional school plans have been received and reviewed. Staff reviewed the plans to determine that the required elements were included, addressed the performance deficiencies, and the date certain was realistic for achieving full accreditation status.

Attachment B summarizes the elements of individual Unified School Improvement Plans. It was recommended that six (6) Unified School Improvement Plans be approved, five (5) schools be upgraded to Conditional Accreditation status and one (1) school remain Seriously Impaired.

Upon motion by J. D. Morris, second by Sandra M. Chapman, the Board approved six (6) Unified School Improvement Plans, upgraded five (5) schools to Conditional Accreditation status with one (1) school to remain Seriously Impaired. (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment B.)

IX.

Each county board was required to develop and submit an update to the Unified County Improvement Plan (UCIP) or an equivalent strategic Plan to the West Virginia Office of Education Performance Audits by December 31. This plan is based on information from the Unified School Improvement Plans, locally identified needs, and school performance data.

The remaining six (6) plans Returned for Revisions have been resubmitted for State Board approval. Attachment C summarizes the revised components of the individual Unified County Improvement Plans. The six (6) revised plans are recommended for approval.

Upon motion by Paul J. Morris, second by Jim L. McKnight, the Board approved the six (6) revised Unified County Improvement Plans. (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment C.)

X.

A random and unannounced education performance audit was conducted in the Lewis County School System. All schools in Lewis County were evaluated by members of the on-site review team.

Based on the performance data and results of the education performance audit, it was recommended that the Lewis County School System be issued Temporary Approval status, one (1) school be granted Full Accreditation status, five (5) schools be issued Temporary Accreditation status, and one (1) school remain Seriously Impaired.

Upon motion by Sandra M. Chapman, second by Sheila M. Hamilton, the Board issued the Lewis County School System Temporary Approval status, granted one (1) school Full Accreditation status, five (5) schools Temporary Accreditation status, and one (1) school to remain Seriously Impaired. (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment D.)

XI.

An on-site review of the Taylor County School System was conducted from February 8-11, 1999. An Education Performance Audit Team returned to Taylor County April 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 Taylor County School System be granted Full Approval status and that all seven (7) Taylor County schools be granted Full Accreditation status.

Upon motion by Sheila M. Hamilton, second by Jim L. McKnight, the Board granted Taylor County School System Full Approval status and all seven (7) Taylor County schools Full Accreditation status. (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment E.)

XII.

President Mathews recessed the meeting at 9:35 a.m.

XIII.

President Mathews reconvened the meeting at 9:50 a.m.

XIV.

Upon motion by Ronald B. Spencer, second by Sheila M. Hamilton, the Board approved consent agenda items as amended and as recommended. (Copies appended to Official Minutes, Attachments F- Mc and addenda.)

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 for approval. The facilities plan for Fayette County has been reviewed by the staff of the School Building Authority of West Virginia and the Office of School Transportation and Facilities for compliance with Policy 6200 and the SBA Guidelines and Procedures Handbook.

Based upon the data provided by the Fayette County Board of Education, the Comprehensive Educational Facilities Plan was recommended for approval.

The Mason County Comprehensive Educational Facilities Plan (CEFP), approved by the West Virginia Board of Education on November 30, 1990, does not contain a provision for the construction of classroom additions to Ashton, North Point, and Leon Elementary Schools. The Mason County Board of Education requests approval of an amendment to its CEFP to include a provision for the construction of classroom additions to Ashton, North Point, and Leon Elementary Schools.

The amendment to the Mason County CEFP was recommended for approval.

For the Month of April 2000

Total Supplements = $15,811,510 Total Transfers = $3,854,550

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

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

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

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

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

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 Mc and addendum. (Attachment Mc and addendum.)

XV.

Adam Sponaugle provided the Board a report regarding Making Schools Work (MSW). MSW is a cooperative initiative with the Southern Regional Education Board (SREB) to design, implement, evaluate and refine a comprehensive middle and secondary schools model by bringing together SREB High Schools that Work and the emerging middle grades effort into an integrated whole school improvement reform. (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment N.)

XVI.

Lenore Zedosky provided the Board a report regarding Policy 2421 incidents from all 55 counties and action taken with respect to the incidents. (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment O.)

XVII.

Policy 2520 defines the instructional goals and objectives for the programs of study required by Policy 2510 and establishes a standardized format for same. The K-3 Reading/Language Arts and Conceptual Mathematics instructional goals and objectives were placed on public comment by the Board in February.

Comments received totaled 374. Of those comments, 156 voiced total approval of the recommended revisions. The majority of the revisions recommended involved rewording the existing objectives for further clarity. Other areas of concern, including Title I and use of bold type for specific instructional goals and objectives, were addressed.

Upon motion by Jim L. McKnight, second by Paul J. Morris, the Board approved the K-3 Reading/Language Arts and Conceptual Mathematics instructional goals and objectives. (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment P.)

XVIII.

Policy 2510 provides direction and structure for the organization, delivery and accountability of education in West Virginia. Revisions were presented to the Board on November 4, 1999 and February 13, 2000, and were placed on comment.

The following major changes were made to Policy 2510: all references to 8100 minutes for a high school credit course have been eliminated. A new section (7.2.12) has been added that requires a county board of education to obtain a waiver from the State Board if it proposes to schedule fewer than 7200 minutes for credit courses; the definitions and examples of "higher level course" and "more rigorous course" have been changed so that a more rigorous course may be in any content area; the Robert C. Beach Vocational Agriculture Credit is defined; and, provisions of Policy 2510 have been aligned with Policy 2419.

Upon motion by Jim L. McKnight, second by J. D. Morris, the Board approved the changes to the definitions and examples of "higher level course" and "more rigorous course", the Robert C. Beach Vocational Agriculture Credit definition, and the alignment with Policy 2419, and did not approve the proposed 7200 minute requirement for credit courses, requiring that a county board of education seek a waiver from the State Board if it proposes to schedule fewer than 8100 minutes for credit courses. (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment Q.)

The comment period for Policy 4334 ended on April 14, 2000. One comment was received and adopted. That comment pertained to the type of wheels and rims which should be used on school buses.

Upon motion by Sheila M. Hamilton, second by Ronald B. Spencer, the Board approved Policy 4334. (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment R.)

XX.

The comment period for Policy 4336 ended on April 14, 2000. Two comments were received and neither was accepted. The only revision to this policy was to bring it into compliance with West Virginia Code 18A-2-10.

Upon motion by Paul J. Morris, second by Sheila M. Hamilton, the Board approved Policy 4336. (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment S.)

Requests in the amount of $8,866,005.75 were received from vocational centers or agencies eligible for funding through the 3% allocations of the School Building Authority of West Virginia (SBA). The amount of money available July 1, 2000 is $1,186,572. The total amount of all recommended projects is $991,186, leaving a contingency fund of $195,386.

Upon motion by Jim L. McKnight, second by J. D. Morris, the Board approved funding for the following projects:

WVDE Office of Professional Preparation $123,500

WVDE Office of Institutional Education $205,030

WVDE Office of Technology $309,000

James Rumsey Technical Institute $127,970

Calhoun-Gilmer Career Center $ 23,200

Fred Eberle Technical Center $ 22,391

United Technical Center $ 92,950

WV Schools for the Deaf and the Blind $ 56,745

Roane Jackson Technical Center $ 30,400

Policy 6201, Carpeting in Public Schools, is being revised due to legislative action changing the minimum use of carpet to include the appropriate floor covering.

Upon motion by J. D. Morris, second by Sheila M. Hamilton, the Board placed Policy 6201 on public comment until June 12, 2000. (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment T.)

XXIII.

Policy 4320 is being revised to bring the policy in line with regulatory changes in the school nutrition programs. Approval will allow the Department to assist counties in complying with United States Department of Agriculture regulations.

Upon motion by Paul J. Morris, second by Sandra M. Chapman, the Board placed Policy 4320 on public comment until June 12, 2000. (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment U.)

XXIV.

Policy 2445.40 incorporates the language and intent of West Virginia Code 18-2A-1 and establishes a new adoption cycle for the required programs of study in the public schools. This policy and schedule for groupings aligns with Policy 2520: Instructional Goals and Objectives and Policy 2510: Assuring Quality Education Regulations for Education Programs.

Upon motion by Jim L. McKnight, second by Sandra M. Chapman, the Board placed Policy 2445.40 on public comment until July 11, 2000. (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment V.)

XXV.

Policy 4355 is the result of House Bill 4078 that requires the State Board to promulgate rules for the identification of eligible veterans and for the awarding of high school diplomas to those veterans who served in World War I, World War II, and the Korean Conflict, and the Vietnam Conflict but who did not graduate from high school.

Upon motion by Paul J. Morris, second by J. D. Morris, the Board placed Policy 4355 on public comment until June 12, 2000. (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment W.)

XXVI.

The West Virginia School Boards Association (WVSBA) conducts an orientation session bi-annually for new county school board members as required by W.Va. Code 18-5-1a. Attachment X contains the proposed program for the 2000 orientation session scheduled for June 21-24 at Canaan Valley Resort and Conference Center.

Upon motion by Jim L. McKnight, second by Sheila M. Hamilton, the Board approved the WVSBA program as submitted. (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment X.)

XXVII.

Policy 5202, Minimum Requirements for the Licensure of Professional/Paraprofessional Personnel and Advanced Salary Classifications, was recently revised. The revisions included changing the grade level configurations of endorsements for student support and administrative specializations from K-12 to "not specified." These changes were made to accommodate the growing number of preschool programs in our public schools.

The Department proposed advising county superintendents that individuals who hold licensure reflecting the following endorsements at the kindergarten or first-grade level may work with kindergarten and/or preschool students within the area of licensure: counselor, education audiologist, principal, superintendent, supervisor of instruction, hearing impaired, vision impaired, art, music and physical education. These individuals may not be used to replace the regular preschool teacher of deliver the preschool curriculum. They may supply services, provide administrative support, or augment the curriculum.

Additionally, the Pre-Professional Skills Tests passage rates for candidates with master's degrees were recently reviewed. The Department also proposed, effective immediately, that a candidate for licensure who holds a master's degree or higher from an accredited institution of higher education shall be exempt from the Pre-Professional Skills Tests in reading, writing and math.

Policy 5202 will undergo revision at a future date to reflect these changes.

Upon motion by J. D. Morris, second by Paul J. Morris, the Board approved the afore-stated actions. (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment Y.)

XXVIII.

President Mathews recessed the meeting at 12:02 p.m.

XXIX.

President Mathews reconvened the meeting at 1:06 p.m. Following the call to order, upon motion by Paul J. Morris, second by Sandra M. Chapman, 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 to discuss pending litigation and personnel matters. Upon return from Executive Session, President Mathews reported that there were no deliberations and no decisions were made and no action was taken.

XXX.

Jim L. McKnight announced the proposed dates (October 16-19, 2000) for the summit and gave a brief overview of an invitation list and sample agenda.

Upon motion by J. D. Morris, second by Jim L. McKnight, the Board selected Corine Hadley, Iowa, as their candidate for President of NASBE.

Upon motion by Jim L. McKnight, second by Sheila M. Hamilton, the Board selected Pat Chlouber, Colorado, as their candidate for Vice-President of NASBE.

Thomas McGough, New Jersey, is unopposed for the position of Northeaster Area Director.

Sandra M. Chapman will continue to represent the Board as a member of the NASBE Healthy School Team. Should she be unable to fulfill a commitment another available member will serve as alternate.

The Policy 2320 Revision Commission has not presented anything as of this date. Howard O'Cull has indicated that he will provide submissions.

Adam Sponaugle is to be responsible for returning a nameplate to the building in question. The return of the nameplate will take place during an official ceremony.

XXXI.

The next regular meeting of the West Virginia Board of Education will be held June 8, 2000 at the West Virginia Schools for the Deaf and the Blind in Romney, West Virginia.

XXXII.

Upon motion by J. D. Morris, second by Sheila M. Hamilton, the Board adjourned at approximately 2:54 p.m.

Minutes approved by the Board on June 8, 2000.

____________________________________________

Cleo P. Mathews, President