MINUTES

WEST VIRGINIA BOARD OF EDUCATION

Board Conference Room

Capitol Building 6, Room 353

1900 Kanawha Boulevard, East

Charleston, West Virginia

November 29, 2001

I.

Via teleconference, President Sandra M. Chapman called the special meeting of the West Virginia Board of Education to order at 2:35 p.m. on November 29, 2001, in the Board Conference Room, Capitol Building 6, Room 353, 1900 Kanawha Boulevard, East, Charleston, West Virginia.

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

II.

Upon motion by Howard M. Persinger, Jr., second by J. D. Morris, the Board unanimously approved the agenda as presented.

III.

Rebecca Tinder, General Counsel to the Department and the Board, and Dr. Stewart addressed Board regarding comments received from various Board and staff members. Following extensive discussion, it was decided that Policy 2421 - Racial, Sexual, Religious/Ethnic Harassment and Violence and Policy 2425 - Anti-Hazing would continue to exist in their current form until comprehensive revision can be completed and that a new policy would be developed dealing with recent legislation.

IV.

Following discussion, comments received from President Chapman and Mr. Persinger pertaining to clarity of language and use of acronyms will be incorporated into the final product.

V.

Rebecca Tinder provided an update on activities regarding the pending lawsuit and indicated that all agencies not directly under Cabinet Secretaries are permitted to file with the Supreme Court a request to intervene or to file an amicus brief by December 3, 2001. Attorney Tinder reported that a motion to intervene would be timely filed on behalf of the West Virginia Board of Education, West Virginia Department of Education and the State Superintendent of Schools

VI.

The next regular meeting of the West Virginia Board of Education will be held December 12-13 in Charleston, West Virginia.

VII.

Upon motion by J. D. Morris, second by James J. MacCallum, the Board, by unanimous vote, adjourned at 3:12 p.m.

Minutes approved by the Board on December 13, 2001,

_______________________________________________

Sandra M. Chapman, President

wvbeminutes11/29/01