MINUTES

WEST VIRGINIA BOARD OF EDUCATION

Board Conference Room

Capitol Building 6, Room 353

1900 Kanawha Boulevard, East

Charleston, West Virginia

February 13, 2002

I.

President Sandra M. Chapman called the meeting of the West Virginia Board of Education to order at 1:00 p.m. on February 13, 2002, in the Board Conference Room, Capitol Building 6, Room 353, 1900 Kanawha Boulevard, East, Charleston, West Virginia.

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

II.

Upon motion by J. D. Morris, seconded by Ronald B. Spencer, the Board approved the agenda.

III.

Barbara N. Fish introduced Dr. Frank Medley and Professor Jurgen Schlunk with the Foreign Language Department at West Virginia University, and Mary Ann Ferris, a retired French teacher, who appeared on behalf of the West Virginia Foreign Language Teachers Association. Professor Schlunk and Ms. Ferris distributed information and addressed the Board regarding the intent and implementation of Policy 2510 and the recruitment and retention of foreign language teachers. (Copies appended to Official Minutes, Attachment A.)

IV.

Barbara N. Fish distributed a report regarding her participation in the NASBE Low Performing School Study Group which took place last month in Alexandria, Virginia. The next meeting will take place March 8 and 9. (Copy appended to the Official Minutes, Attachment B.)

V.

John Hough, Executive Assistant to the State Superintendent, distributed an update of the major education legislative bills and updated the Board regarding the current status of the Board's legislative agenda and associated press releases. (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment C.)

VI.

President Chapman recessed the meeting at 3:17 p.m.

VII.

President Chapman called the meeting back to order at 3:30 p.m.

VIII.

Bill Luff, Deputy State Superintendent of Schools, provided an update on legislative action and policy considerations regarding instructional time and instructional days. Following a lengthy discussion, it was agreed that the March work session would be devoted to Policy 2510. Rebecca Tinder, General Counsel to the Board and Department, was requested to have a report including an updated instructional time chart for the March work session.

IX.

Concerns of the Commission were addressed. It was reiterated that policies which relate to the Commission will be reviewed.

X.

Rebecca Tinder addressed the Board regarding the process for reviewing and developing State Board policies and provided an overview of the current status of policies. A listing of all State Board policies will be provided to each member.

XI.

J. D. Morris and Paul Morris responded to President Chapman's request for volunteers to assist with the development of an evaluation form/process.

XII.

President Chapman called for an executive session to discuss with its attorney, Rebecca Tinder, a personnel matter deemed to be within the purview of attorney-client privilege pursuant to the holding in Peters v. County Commission, 519 S.E.2d 179 (W.Va. 1999).

Upon motion by James J. MacCallum, seconded by Paul J. Morris, the Board entered into Executive Session at 4:47 p.m.

XIII.

The Board returned from Executive Session at 5:15 p.m. at which time President Chapman announced no action was taken and no decisions made.

Due to time constraints, the agenda items dealing with the State Board Travel Schedule and Itinerary for Meetings and Communication were deferred to a future meeting.

XIV.

The next meeting of the West Virginia Board of Education will take place on February 14, 2002 in Charleston, West Virginia.

XV.

Upon motion by James J. MacCallum, seconded by J. D. Morris, the Board adjourned at 5:17 p.m.

Minutes approved by the Board on March 7, 2002.

______________________________________________

Sandra M. Chapman, President

wvbeminutes2/13/02