MINUTES

WEST VIRGINIA BOARD OF EDUCATION

at

West Virginia Schools for the Deaf and the Blind

School for the Blind Auditorium

Romney, West Virginia

June 8, 2000

President Cleo P. Mathews called the meeting of the West Virginia Board of Education to order at 8:34 a.m. on June 8, 2000, in the Auditorium of the School for the Blind at the West Virginia Schools for the Deaf and the Blind, Romney, West Virginia. Members present were Secretary J. D. Morris, Sandra M. Chapman, Sheila M. Hamilton, James J. MacCallum, Jim L. McKnight, Ronald B. Spencer and Superintendent David L. Stewart. Members absent: Vice-President Gary G. White and Paul J. Morris.

II.

Following a welcome and introduction by President Mathews and Superintendent Jane McBride, the Mountaineer Melodies, a musical troupe comprised of elementary age students from the School for the Deaf and the School for the Blind, provided a musical welcome to the Board on behalf of the students and staff of the West Virginia Schools for the Deaf and the Blind.

III.

President Mathews proclaimed the West Virginia School for the Blind Classroom Building to henceforth be known as the Seldon W. Brannon Building. Following the proclamation, Ms. Christine Cook, a former student and personal friend of Mr. Brannon, addressed the Board memorializing her mentor and friend.

IV.

President Mathews recognized the following three West Virginia school systems which have been selected for funding under the U. S. Department of Education's 21^st Century Community Learning Centers Program: Kanawha County Schools - estimated first-year funding $543,876; Marshall County Schools - estimated first-year funding $480,000; and, Nicholas County Schools - estimated first-year funding $613,426. Also recognized was Abby Reynolds, state coordinator for business education. Ms. Reynolds was the recipient of the 2000 National Business Education's Distinguished Service Award for a Supervisor of Business Education. (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment A.)

V.

Dr. Laurie Stilley and Mr. Fred E. Blackmer addressed the Board regarding issues pertaining to Jefferson County schools. (Copy of letter from Mr. Blackmer appended to Official Minutes, Attachment B.) Dorothy Bennett and Becky Propst addressed the Board regarding the transportation of students from Pendleton County to Grant County.

VI.

Upon motion by Jim L. McKnight, second by Sheila M. Hamilton, the Board approved the minutes of the May 11, 2000 regular meeting and May 22, 2000 special meeting as submitted. (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment C.)

VII.

Upon motion by J. D. Morris, second by Ronald B. Spencer, the Board approved the agenda with the following changes:

Under Superintendent's Information, add Prepare Tomorrow's Teachers to Use

Technology.

Under Consent Agenda, remove item number 10(b).

Under Consent Agenda, add WV: IMPACT Report.

Under Old Business, add item D. Policy 2510: Assuring the Quality of Education:

Regulation for Education Programs.

Under New Business, add item G. Appointments to Higher Education Task Forces.

Under Miscellaneous, add West Virginia Education Summit.

VIII.

Dr. Seal advised that the report on the follow-up visit to Mingo County will be on the July agenda and reports are in progress for Wyoming, Wayne, Pendleton and Preston Counties.

An on-site review of the Lincoln County school system was conducted from September 26-October 1, 1999. An Education Performance Audit Team returned to Lincoln County May 8-12, 2000. The purpose of the return team visit was to evaluate progress in alleviating the noncompliances identified during the original on-site review.

Based upon the Progress Evaluation findings and a review of the annual performance measures, it was found that the Lincoln County school system is not providing a thorough and efficient education system. It was recommended that the West Virginia Board of Education declare that adequate progress had not been made in correcting the emergency and that the Lincoln County school system remain on Nonapproval status. It was further recommended that interventions occur in the operation of the school system to cause improvements to be made to assure a thorough and efficient system of schools. (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment D.)

President Mathews invited, and Superintendent of Lincoln County Schools Peggy Adkins accepted, an invitation to address the Board regarding the Progress Evaluation findings.

Upon the recommendation of the State Superintendent and by motion of James J. MacCallum, second by J. D. Morris, the Board, by unanimous vote, found that major deficiencies remain in the Lincoln County school system that have not been adequately addressed and that adequate progress had not been made in correcting the emergency declared in October 1999.

Upon the recommendation of the State Superintendent and by motion of J. D. Morris, second by Jim L. McKnight, the Board, by unanimous vote, pursuant to its constitutional and statutory authority under W.Va. Code 18-2E-5(k)(4), intervened in the operation of the Lincoln County school system to cause improvements to be made that will provide assurances that a thorough and efficient system of schools will be provided to the students in Lincoln County.

Upon the recommendation of the State Superintendent and by motion of James J. MacCallum, second by Jim L. McKnight, the Board, by unanimous vote, pursuant to its constitutional and statutory authority under W.Va. Code 18-2E-5(k)(4), limited the authority of the Lincoln County Board of Education as to the expenditure of funds, the employment and dismissal of personnel, the establishment and operation of the school calendar, and the establishment of instructional programs and rules to the extent that the Lincoln County Board of Education may take no action in any of these areas without the approval of the State Superintendent of Schools.

Upon the recommendation of the State Superintendent and by motion of Jim L. McKnight, second by James J. MacCallum, the Board, by unanimous vote, pursuant to its constitutional and statutory authority under W.Va. Code 18-2E-5(k)(4), limited the authority of the current Superintendent of Lincoln County Schools so that she may take no official action as Superintendent of Lincoln County Schools until and unless she receives express approval for said action from the State Superintendent of Schools.

Upon the recommendation of the State Superintendent and by motion of Sandra M. Chapman, second by Sheila M. Hamilton, the Board, by unanimous vote, pursuant to its constitutional and statutory authority under W.Va. Code 18-2E-5(k)(4), declared the office of the Superintendent of Lincoln County Schools to be vacant, effective June 30, 2000, and assigned the current Lincoln County Superintendent to be Principal of Harts High School, effective July 1, 2000, for an employment term consistent with other high school principals in Lincoln County at a salary to be determined from the Lincoln County salary schedule.

Upon the recommendation of the State Superintendent and by motion of Jim L. McKnight, second by James J. MacCallum, the Board, by unanimous vote, pursuant to its constitutional and statutory authority under W.Va. Code 18-2E-5(k)(4), appointed Bill Grizzell as Superintendent of Lincoln County Schools effective July 1, 2000, for a term expiring on June 30, 2004, at a salary of $87,000 per year.

Upon the recommendation of the State Superintendent and by motion of Sheila M. Hamilton, second by Sandra M. Chapman, the Board, by unanimous vote, pursuant to its constitutional and statutory authority under W.Va. Code 18-2E-5(k)(4), granted the State Superintendent all authority necessary to take whatever action the State Superintendent deems appropriate to correct the non-approval status of the Lincoln County school system.

Upon the recommendation of the State Superintendent and by motion of Sandra M. Chapman, second by Jim L. McKnight, the Board, by unanimous vote, requested monthly status reports from the State Superintendent or his designee regarding progress toward correcting the non-approval status of the Lincoln County school system.

Upon the recommendation of the State Superintendent and by motion of Ronald B. Spencer, second by Sheila M. Hamilton, the Board, by unanimous vote, directed the State Superintendent and the new Superintendent of Lincoln County Schools to jointly develop a set of standards that must be met before full control of that school system will be returned to the Lincoln County Board of Education and determined that an annual meeting with the Lincoln County Board of Education will take place to review progress in meeting those standards. (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment E.)

X.

President Mathews recessed the meeting at 10:29 a.m.

XI.

President Mathews reconvened the meeting at 10:46 a.m.

XII.

An on-site review of the Hardy County school system was conducted from November 17-18, 1998. An Education Performance Audit Team returned to Hardy County March 14-15, 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 Hardy County school system be granted Full Approval status, four (4) Hardy County schools be granted Full Accreditation status, and one (1) school issued Temporary Accreditation status.

Upon motion by J. D. Morris, second by Sandra M. Chapman, the Board issued the Hardy County school system Full Approval status, granted four (4) Hardy County schools Full Accreditation status, and issued one (1) school Temporary Accreditation status. (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment F.)

XIII.

An on-site review of the Marion County school system was conducted from May 11-14, 1999. An Education Performance Audit Team returned to Marion County May 1-3, 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 Marion County school system be granted Full Approval status, twenty (20) Marion County schools be granted Full Accreditation status, and three (3) schools issued Conditional Accreditation status.

Upon motion by Sheila M. Hamilton, second by Jim L. McKnight, the Board issued the Marion County school system Full Approval status, granted twenty (20) Marion County schools Full Accreditation status, and issued three (3) schools Conditional Accreditation status. (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment G.)

XIV.

An on-site review of the Webster County school system was conducted May 4, 1999. An Education Performance Audit Team returned to Webster County May 24, 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 Webster County school system be granted Full Approval status and all five (5) Webster County schools be granted Full Accreditation status.

Upon motion by James J. MacCallum, second by J. D. Morris, the Board issued the Webster County school system Full Approval status and granted all five (5) Webster County schools Full Accreditation status. (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment H.)

XV.

Superintendent Stewart announced receipt of a grant, funded under the Preparing Tomorrow's Teachers to Use Technology grants program, in the amount of $591,258.00. The grant is to be used to train future teachers to use technology effectively in the classroom. (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment I.)

XVI.

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

The Kanawha 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 relocation of portable classrooms at Tiskelwah Elementary School and Taft Elementary School.

The Kanawha County Board of Education requested approval of an amendment to its CEFP to include the relocation of portable classrooms from Tiskelwah and Taft Elementary Schools to Dunbar and Alum Creek Elementary Schools. These classrooms will not house special education students and are equipped with restrooms.

The Board approved the amendment to the Kanawha County CEFP.

The Wyoming 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 closure of Glen Rogers Grade School effective at the end of the 1999-2000 school term.

The Wyoming County Board of Education requested approval of an amendment to its CEFP to include the closure of Glen Rogers Grade School effective at the end of the 1999-2000 school term. Approval was also sought to approve the closure of Glen Rogers Grade School and its consolidation with Pineville Elementary and Pineville Middle School effective at the end of the 1999-2000 school term.

The Board approved the amendment to the Wyoming County CEFP. (Attachment J.)

For the Month of May 2000

Total Supplements = $26,705,486 Total Transfers = $20,571,056

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

The Board approved the proposed budgets for the 2000-01 year for county school systems. (Attachment M.)

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Board approved the instructional material adoption waiver requested by Marlinton Middle School, Pocahontas County, for Art, Grades 5-8. (Attachment S.)

Fifteen (15) principals submitted waiver requests for the Summer 2000 Principal Leadership Academy.

The Board approved 13 waiver requests and denied two as the principals had been granted waivers for the 1999 Academy "with the stipulation that you attend the 2000 Principal Leadership Academy." (Attachment T and addendum.)

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 U and addenda.

Board members were provided an update on the WV: IMPACT grant. (Attachment V.)

XVII.

Lugenia Porter, Chairperson, and Dr. Michael E. Sullivan, Executive Director, West Virginia Advisory Council for the Education of Exceptional Children, presented the Council's 2000 Annual Report. The report includes a description of the Council's activities, acknowledgment of exemplary practices throughout the state, and recommendations to the Board. The Council advises the State Board, through its Annual Report, on the unmet needs of children with exceptionalities. (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment W.)

XVIII.

Bill Luff distributed two documents to the Board depicting the technical assistance process to be used by the Department and the professional development for Department staff to be provided over the next eight or nine months. (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment X.)

XIX.

The purpose of the proposed revisions is to reflect the changes made to W.Va. Code 18A-4-8a during the recent legislative session. The statute was revised to provide an additional $10 per month in pay to the service personnel who have completed sixty and seventy-two hours of college or comparable training in a trade or vocational school.

Seven comments were received during the comment period. All seven respondents recommended deletion of the phrase ". . . in an area relevant to current or anticipated employment with a West Virginia board of education." Consequently, this phrase was deleted from the proposed policy. This was the only change made to the policy as a result of the comment period.

Upon motion by James J. MacCallum, second by Sheila M. Hamilton, the Board approved Policy 5301. (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment Y.)

Policy 1230 provides a procedure for obtaining public records under the Freedom of Information Act (W.Va. Code 29B-1-1 et seq.) from the West Virginia Board of Education and/or the Department of Education.

The proposed policy is new and was on public comment through May 17, 2000. Two comments were received. No changes were made in the policy as placed on comment.

Upon motion by James J. MacCallum, second by Jim L. McKnight, the Board approved Policy 1230. (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment Z.)

The membership of the West Virginia Secondary School Activities Commission proposed changes to the rules and regulations that govern interscholastic activities for all member schools in West Virginia. These proposed changes were on public comment through May 18, 2000. Executive Secretary Mike Hayden addressed the Board and introduced Betsy Best, Assistant Executive Secretary, who was also in attendance.

Upon motion by J. D. Morris, second by Jim L. McKnight, the Board approved the proposed changes to the rules of the West Virginia Secondary Schools Activities Commission. (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment AA.) [This action was later rescinded. See Item XXXII.]

XXII.

The purpose of this item was to seek reconsideration of the motion made at the May State Board meeting which approved Policy 2510.

Two changes were needed to the policy as it was presented in May. The first would change "7200 minutes" to "8100 minutes in Section 7.2.12 of the policy. This change would require a county proposing to schedule a high school credit course for fewer than 8100 minutes to obtain a waiver from the State Board. The second would change the definition of a more rigorous course in Section 8.2.10.b.B.(d)(B) so that it would be limited to the same content area of the course for which it is being substituted.

Upon motion by Jim L. McKnight, second by Sheila M. Hamilton, the Board rescinded the action taken at the May meeting with regard to Policy 2510.

Upon motion by James J. MacCallum, second by J. D. Morris, the Board approved Policy 2510 as currently presented. (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment BB.)

XXIII.

The calendars for the 2000-2001 school year for the Department's education programs in state correctional institutions, regional jails, health and human service institutions and juvenile detention centers were submitted for the Board's approval. The school calendars define the employment term for staff and the instructional term for students. Employment of staff for the extended school term beyond June 30, 2001, is designated in the school calendars as contingent upon funding for FY-2002 by the Legislature.

Upon motion by Sandra M. Chapman, second by Jim L. McKnight, the Board approved the 2000-2001 school calendars for Institutional Education Programs and granted Frank D. Andrews the authority to approve minor amendments to the school calendars for good cause. (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment CC.)

XXIV.

Policy 5100 - Approval of Educational Personnel Programs requires the Program Review Board to meet each semester to review new content specializations and make recommendations to the West Virginia Board of Education for action.

The Program Review Board met on June 6, 2000, and recommended the following programs to the West Virginia Board of Education for approval: Davis and Elkins College's programs in Music for grades K-12, and Ohio Valley College's programs for English, grades 5-12; General Science, grades 5-12; Mathematics, grades 5-12; Social Studies, grades 5-12; and Physical Education, grades K-12.

Upon motion by J. D. Morris, second by Sandra M. Chapman, the Board approved the aforesaid programs. (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment DD and addendum.)

XXV.

State Board Policy 2510: Assuring the Quality of Education: Regulations for Education Programs, states, "All summer school programs shall be submitted to the West Virginia Board of Education . . . for approval."

Applications received represented summer school at sixty-seven (67) locations. The summer school programs impact students in several ways: 1) students may repeat failed classes; 2) students may earn credit for graduation; 3) students may complete certain required courses to pursue additional elective courses during the school term; and 4) students may be offered remediation or acceleration programs.

Upon motion by James J. MacCallum, second by Sandra M. Chapman, the Board approved the summer school applications. (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment EE.)

XXVI.

The 2000 WV Legislature funded the Department's improvement package in the amount of $350,738 to provide educational services at the Beckley Center of Burlington United Methodist Family Services, Inc., Beckley, West Virginia for the 2000-2001 fiscal year. The Beckley Center is a 20-bed residential foster care treatment center for youth in state custody.

W.Va. Code 18-2-13h authorizes the State Board to enter into agreements with the Department of Health and Human Resources to provide adequate and appropriate educational opportunities for school-age juveniles placed in residential facilities for custody and treatment. In this regard, an agreement was developed to permit the Department's Office of Institutional Education Programs to provide educational services at the Beckley Center.

Upon motion by Jim L. McKnight, second by Sandra M. Chapman, the Board approved the agreement between the West Virginia Board of Education and the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources and Its Service Provider the Burlington United Methodist Family Services, Inc., for provision of educational services at the Beckley Center. (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment FF.)

XXVII.

The West Virginia Board of Education establishes Regional Education Service Agencies (RESAs) as a part of the school system. The purpose of the RESA is to provide supplemental services to county boards of education, thereby equalizing educational opportunities available to students. The proposed policy changes incorporate additional recommendations from the Policy 3233 study committee: a) the state superintendent's designee to the board will be a nonvoting member; b) each county superintendent and each county board of education member or designee to the board will be voting members when selecting an executive; c) adds one year experience in educational administration to the qualification for the RESA director; and, d) deletes the provision that the state superintendent of schools' designee could meet in place of the superintendent at the semi-annual meetings with the State Board, chair and director of each RESA.

Upon motion by James J. MacCallum, second by Sheila M. Hamilton, the Board placed Policy 3233 on public comment until July 21, 2000. (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment GG.)

XXVIII.

The West Virginia Schools for the Deaf and the Blind received a request from the West Virginia Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing to lease the farmhouse property located at 475 Depot Street for the purpose of relocating the Commission Office from Charleston to Romney.

Upon motion by James J. MacCallum, second by Sheila M. Hamilton, the Board approved the aforesaid request. (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment HH.)

XXIX.

S. B. 653, the higher education bill, passed during the 2000 legislative session, requires the creation of two task forces, one on teacher quality and one on student financial aid. Both task forces are to be chaired by the chancellor for higher education. The State Board must select five members for the teacher quality task force and four members for the student financial aid task force.

Upon motion by J. D. Morris, second by Sheila M. Hamilton, the Board appointed Ede Ashworth, Susan Barrett, John Hough, Karen Morgan and Ronald Spencer to the Task Force on Teacher Quality. (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment II.)

Upon motion by James J. MacCallum, second by Jim L. McKnight, the Board appointed Diane Furman, Charles Heinlein, Larry Parsons and Jim Scherr to the Task Force on Student Financial Aid. (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment II.)

XXX.

President Mathews recessed the meeting for lunch at 12:04 p.m.

XXXI.

President Mathews reconvened the meeting at 1:03 p.m.

XXXII.

Due to a minor technicality, Superintendent Stewart recommended that the Board rescind the action previously taken with regard to the proposed changes to the West Virginia Secondary School Activities Commission rules.

Upon motion by J. D. Morris, second by Jim L. McKnight, the Board rescinded its previous action in this matter with the understanding that this item will be brought back before the Board at its July meeting for consideration.

XXXIII.

Following the viewing of an informational video on conducting public forums, Jim McKnight distributed a draft brochure for the Board's perusal. (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment JJ.)

XXXIV.

The next regular meeting of the West Virginia Board of Education will be held July 13, 2000 at the West Virginia Governor's School for the Arts on the campus of Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia.

XXXV.

Upon motion by J. D. Morris, second by James J. MacCallum, the Board adjourned at approximately 1:45 p.m.

Minutes approved by the Board on July 13, 2000.

__________________________________________

Cleo P. Mathews, President

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