MINUTES

WEST VIRGINIA BOARD OF EDUCATION



Board Conference Room

Capitol Building 6, Room 353

1900 Kanawha Boulevard, East

Charleston, West Virginia

May 22, 2000





I.

Call to Order



President Cleo P. Mathews called the meeting of the West Virginia Board of Education to order at 12:10 p.m. on May 22, 2000, in the Board Conference Room, Capitol Building 6, Room 353, 1900 Kanawha Boulevard, East, Charleston, West Virginia. Members present were Vice-President Gary G. White, Secretary J. D. Morris, Sandra M. Chapman, Sheila M. Hamilton, James J. MacCallum, Jim L. McKnight, Paul J. Morris (via teleconference), and Ronald J. Spencer.



II.

Approval of Agenda



Upon motion by Gary G. White, second by Jim L. McKnight, the Board approved the agenda.



III.

Naming of Academic Classroom Building at the

West Virginia Schools for the Deaf and the Blind



Upon motion by Sheila M. Hamilton, second by J. D. Morris, the Board approved naming the Academic Classroom Building at the West Virginia Schools for the Deaf and the Blind the Seldon W. Brannon Building.



IV.

Executive Session



Upon motion by Gary G. White, second by Jim L. McKnight, 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 Tomblin v. Gainer and personnel matters. Upon return from Executive Session, President Mathews released the following statement:



  • The West Virginia Board of Education reaffirmed today that David Stewart will continue to serve as State Superintendent of Schools for an indeterminate amount of time while the superintendent search process continues.


  • The Board also noted that Dr. Stewart is not an "interim" or "acting" superintendent since state law requires the post to be filled in a full-time capacity following a resignation or vacancy.


  • The Board further stated that it will encourage Dr. Stewart and other interested candidates to make application for the position over the months to come.


  • Dr. Stewart will continue to lead the Department of Education and will have the authority to organize department offices and staff to best serve the education needs of the state.


  • The Board directed Dr. Stewart to move forward by addressing issues relating to assessment, accountability, technology and other programs critical to improving the quality of our schools.

V.

Future Meetings



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.



VI.

Adjournment



Upon motion by J. D. Morris, second by Jim L. McKnight, the Board adjourned at approximately 3:25 p.m.



Minutes approved by the Board on June 8, 2000.







_________________________________________Cleo P. Mathews, President





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