MINUTES

WEST VIRGINIA BOARD OF EDUCATION

Board Conference Room

Capitol Building 6, Room 353

1900 Kanawha Boulevard, East

Charleston, West Virginia

May 10, 2001

I.

President J. D. Morris called the regular meeting of the West Virginia Board of Education to order at 8:30 a.m. on May 10, 2001, in the Board Conference Room, Capitol Building 6, Room 353, 1900 Kanawha Boulevard, East, Charleston West Virginia.

Members present were Vice-President Sandra M. Chapman, Paul J. Morris, Secretary, Barbara N. Fish, Sheila M. Hamilton, James J. MacCallum, Cleo P. Mathews, Howard M. Persinger, Jr., Ronald B. Spencer, Superintendent David Stewart and J. Michael Mullen, Chancellor, The West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission.

II.

President Morris recognized the following individuals and presented plaques commemorating their achievements.

Christa McAuliffe Fellowship Award Winner for 2001-2002 ~ Nancy Michael, Blackshere Elementary, Marion County.

Community Service-Learning Dream Team Award Winners ~ Brandee Crotty and Erica Buckland, Davis-Stuart School, West Virginia Department of Education.

State Health Council of West Virginia Health Advocacy Award Recipient for HIV/Aids Peer Education ~ Martha Phillips, Office of Healthy Schools, West Virginia Department of Education.

III.

James Suggs, Judy Robinson, Superintendent Charlotte Hutchins and Raleigh County staff members addressed the Board regarding the closure of Piney View Elementary in Raleigh County.

IV.

Upon motion by Paul J. Morris, second by James J. MacCallum, the Board unanimously approved the agenda with the following additions:

Page 8 under Miscellaneous add Item B. Appointment to the SSAC Review Board

Page 8 under Miscellaneous add Item C. Appointment of Superintendent for Mingo County Schools.

V.

It was announced that a pilot education performance audit had been conducted in Putnam County Schools. It was also reported that members of the Legislative Oversight Commission on Education Accountability had concerns with portions of Policy 2320 as it implements parts of the Agreed Order in Tomblin v. Gainer.

VI.

A random and unannounced education performance audit was conducted in the Mineral County School System.

Upon recommendation of the OEPA, a motion by Howard M. Persinger, Jr., second by Paul J. Morris, the Board unanimously issued the Mineral County School System Full Approval status and each of the fourteen (14) Mineral County Schools Full Accreditation Status. (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment A.)

VII.

A random and unannounced education performance audit was conducted in the Pleasants County School System.

Upon recommendation of the OEPA, a motion by Howard M. Persinger, Jr., second by Sheila M. Hamilton, the Board unanimously issued the Pleasants County School System Full Approval status, three (3) schools Full Accreditation status, and one (1) school Conditional Accreditation status. (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment B.)

VIII.

A random and unannounced education performance audit was conducted in the Pleasants County School System. The PRT Vocational-Technical Center was also reviewed during this time by members of the on-site review team.

Upon recommendation of the OEPA, a motion by Sheila M. Hamilton, second by Barbara N. Fish, the Board unanimously issued the PRT Vocational-Technical Center Full Accreditation status. (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment C.)

IX.

An on-site review of the Boone County School System was conducted. An Education Performance Audit Team returned to Boone County April 24, 2001.

Upon recommendation of the OEPA, a motion by James J. MacCallum, second by Paul J. Morris, the Board unanimously issued the Boone County School System Full Approval status, eighteen (18) Boone County Schools Full Accreditation status, and one (1) school Conditional Accreditation status. (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment D and addendum.)

X.

An on-site review of the Logan County School System was conducted. An Education Performance Audit Team returned to Logan County April 10 - 11, 2001.

Upon recommendation of the OEPA, a motion by Howard M. Persinger, Jr., second by Sandra M. Chapman, the Board unanimously issued the Logan County School System Full Approval status, twenty (20) Logan County Schools Full Accreditation status, and two (2) schools Conditional Accreditation status. (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment E.)

XI.

Upon motion by Sandra M. Chapman, second by Howard M. Persinger, Jr., the Board unanimously approved the consent agenda items as amended and as recommended. (Copies appended to Official Minutes, Attachments F-Q and addenda.)

The Morgan County CEFP did not contain a provision for the purchase and installation of a 24' X 70' portable facility to house two 4^th grade classrooms at Widmyer Elementary School. The portable facility is equipped with restrooms and meets ADA requirements.

The Ohio County CEFP did not contain a provision for the merger of Warwood Middle School and Warwood Elementary School into one K-8 school effective for the 2001-2002 school year.

The Lincoln County CEFP did not contain a provision for the site of the Lincoln County Comprehensive High School. It was recommended that the site for the new school be the Jones Farm in Hamlin, West Virginia.

The Raleigh County CEFP contains a provision for the closure of Piney View Elementary School. The Raleigh County Board of Education requested approval to close Piney View Elementary School at the end of the 2000-2001 school term. Students will be transferred to Stanaford or Cranberry/Prosperity Elementary. (Attachment G.)

For the Month of April 2001

Total Supplements = $35,798,695 Total Transfers = $13,770,757

Board members were provided an update on activities of the HVAC technicians. (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 instructional technology projects in West Virginia. (Attachment M.)

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

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

As of May 1, 2001, the Department of Education has received an additional 100 applications for a total of 862 applications for Operation Recognition in connection with Policy 4355: High School Diplomas for Veterans. (Attachment O and addendum.)

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

Twenty (20) county applications have been received representing summer school at 48 county locations and were recommended for approval. (Attachment P and addendum.)

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

XII.

Dr. John Hough, Executive Assistant to the State Superintendent, provided the Board a wrap-up of the 2001 legislative session. (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment R.)

XIII.

Dean Lee, Office of Healthy Schools, provided a presentation regarding two surveys: the West Virginia Youth Risk Behavior Survey (WVYRBS, last conducted in 1999) and the West Virginia Youth Tobacco Survey (WVYTS, last conducted in 2000). (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment S and addendum.)

XIV.

Bill Luff, Deputy Superintendent, presented an update of activities and a status report and recommendations of the Tomblin v. Gainer testing committee.

Upon motion by Barbara N. Fish, second by Cleo P. Mathews, the Board voted that this committee continue its work. (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment T.)

XV.

Stan Hopkins, Assistant Division Chief, Division of Technical and Adult Education Services, presented the final report of the Tomblin v. Gainer Vocational Offerings Committee. The committee met on October 26, November 14, December 1, January 4, February 22 and March 21, to review existing data and research; discuss issues related to the equitable delivery of secondary vocational-technical education; and, formulate a reasonable and defensible response to the following changes that were given to the committee:

Recommend which programs of study, if any, in vocational/technical education should be added/modified/deleted from Policy 2510.

Determine whether there is a shortage of personnel qualified to teach vocational/technical programs of study, and if there is, recommend methods of increasing the availability of personnel to provide such instruction.

Determine whether there is a need for, and if there is, recommend alternative methods of delivery for vocational/technical programs of study.

Determine whether there is appropriate alignment between secondary programs of study and those offered in higher education, particularly community and technical colleges; if there is not such an alignment, provide recommendations on how such an alignment can be achieved.

The executive summary provides details in reference to the committee's framework and process for addressing the recommendations associated with the preceding charges, including a focus on assuring student access to high quality vocational-technical education program of study in all high schools and school systems statewide. (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment U and addendum.)

XVI.

Commissioner Leslie J. Shoemaker addressed the Board regarding the Commission's unanimous request for a release of the restrictions on the title to the property on which the Hampshire Memorial Hospital is located.

Upon motion by Sandra M. Chapman, second by Cleo P. Mathews, the Board, by unanimous vote, referred this issue to the Department's legal counsel for study and recommendation at the June meeting. (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment V.)

XVII.

Adam Sponaugle, Assistant State Superintendent, and Bill Wilcox, Executive Director, Office of Adult Education and Workforce Development, Division of Adult and Technical Education Services, addressed the Board regarding the Adult Basic Education (ABE) program. The ABE program, which serves nearly 30,000 adults annually, is strengthening and expanding its efforts to help West Virginians face the challenges of the 21^st century. Informed parental involvement is one of the outcomes anticipated from the new federal Statewide Family Literacy Initiative grant received by the Department of Education. Other growing initiatives include workplace education, distance learning, computer literacy, and community college partnerships. (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment W.)

XVIII.

Brenda Williams, Executive Director, Office of Instructional Technology, addressed the Board regarding various federal, state and local issues and regulations relating to Internet filtering for West Virginia K-12 public schools. (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment X.)

XIX.

The West Virginia Department of Education has been allocated an additional $60,000 from the U. S. Department of Education to expand English Literacy Services and Civics Education to adult immigrants and other limited English speaking individuals. In order to receive the additional funds, it was necessary to amend the West Virginia State Plan for Adult Basic Education to indicate how those funds will be spent in accordance with the federal guidelines.

Upon motion by James J. MacCallum, second by Sheila M. Hamilton, the Board unanimously voted to amend the West Virginia Adult Basic Education State Plan. (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment Y.)

XX.

The West Virginia Board of Education has adopted the Handbook on Planning School Facilities to provide comprehensive guidelines which address the details of evaluating and renovating existing public education facilities, the construction of new school facilities and developing or amending county's Comprehensive Educational Facilities Plan. This handbook is a working document and is used as such during all planning stages of evaluation and construction. Periodic revisions are necessary in order to meet the demands of evolving educational programs.

Upon motion by Howard M. Persinger, Jr., second by Cleo P. Mathews, the Board unanimously placed Policy 6200 on public comment until June 11, 2001, for action at the July meeting. (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment Z.)

XXI.

Dr. John Hough, Executive Assistant to the State Superintendent, provided the Board with recommendations from the Department regarding the report of the Tomblin v. Gainer Teacher Shortages Committee. (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment AA.)

Dr. Pamela Sumpter-Cain, Assistant State Superintendent, Division of Instructional and Student Services, provided the Board with recommendations from the Department regarding the report of the Tomblin v. Gainer Art and Music Program Limitations Committee. (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment BB.)

Dr. Pamela Sumpter-Cain, Assistant State Superintendent, Division of Instructional and Student Services, provided the Board with recommendations from the Department regarding the report of the Tomblin v. Gainer Foreign Language Teacher Shortage Committee. (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment CC.)

Mr. G. A. McClung. Assistant State Superintendent, Division of Administrative Services, provided the Board with recommendations from the Department regarding the report of the Tomblin v. Gainer Science Facilities Committee. (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment DD.)

XXII.

Bill Luff addressed the Board regarding the issue of nicknames for athletic teams.

Upon motion by Paul J. Morris, second by Sheila M. Hamilton, the Board directed the Department to study this issue and provide a report at the Board's August meeting.

XXIII.

M. Ann Bradley resigned her position as a representative from the West Virginia Bar Association on the West Virginia Secondary Schools Activities Commission (WVSSAC) Review Board. The Association, as required by the WVSSAC by-laws, submitted three names to the State Superintendent as possible replacement.

Upon recommendation of Superintendent Stewart, a motion by Howard M. Persinger, Jr., second by James J. MacCallum, the Board appointed (with Ms. Chapman voting no) Lee F. Feinberg to the WVSSAC Review Board. (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment EE.)

XXIV.

Ted Mattern resigned his position as Superintendent of Mingo County Schools effective June 30, 2001. Under the terms of the 1998 intervention agreement, the State Board has the power to determine Mr. Mattern's replacement.

Upon motion by James J. MacCallum, second by Cleo P. Mathews, the Board unanimously appointed David Temple as Superintendent of Mingo County Schools effective July 1, 2001, for a three-year period, at a salary of $85,000.00. (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment FF.)

XXV.

The next regular meeting of the West Virginia Board of Education will be held June 14 in Calhoun County, West Virginia.

XXVI.

Upon motion by James J. MacCallum, second by Barbara N. Fish, the Board, by unanimous vote, adjourned at 2:00 p.m.

Minutes approved by the Board on June 14, 2001.

______________________________________________

J. D. Morris, President

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