MINUTES

WEST VIRGINIA BOARD OF EDUCATION

Ohio County Schools

Woodsdale Elementary

1 Bethany Pike

Wheeling, West Virginia

April 18, 2002

I.

President Sandra M. Chapman called the meeting of the West Virginia Board of Education to order at 8:40 a.m. on April 18, 2002, in the gymnasium at Woodsdale Elementary, 1 Bethany Pike, Wheeling, West Virginia.

Members present: 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 David Stewart, State Superintendent of Schools. Member absent: J. Michael Mullen, Chancellor, West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission

II.

Larry Miller, Superintendent of Ohio County Schools, welcomed the Board, introduced Ohio County Schools personnel and members of the county board in attendance, and provided a brief overview of accomplishments.

III.

Upon motion by Howard M. Persinger, Jr., seconded by Ronald B. Spencer, the Board approved the agenda with the following modifications: removed for further discussion the Raleigh and Ritchie County Comprehensive Educational Facilities Plans (CEFP) from the Consent Agenda and placed them after Reports.

IV.

Superintendent Stewart recognized Jennings Davis, Office of School Facilities, on becoming the first registered professional engineer for the Department.

V.

Dr. Bruce Rose, teacher at Greenbrier East High School, addressed the Board and distributed information regarding Project CATS. (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment A.)

Barbara Dofka and Libby Strong, Northern Regional Math, Science and Technology Consortium, addressed the Board and distributed information regarding the Executive Director of Project CATS. (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment B.)

Dru Meyer, Orchard Park Children's Center, addressed the Board regarding the implementation of Senate Bill 247 dealing with preschool legislation.

Dan Guida, Esq., Mayor Larry Ferrera and Police Chief Frank Longwell addressed the Board and distributed information regarding the Marshall County CEFP and the proposed closure of Union Junior High School. (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment C.)

VI.

Dr. Edith Levy, West Virginia Holocaust Commission, addressed the Board and distributed information regarding teacher credentialing in the area of holocaust education and the adoption of a standardized curriculum. Dr. Stewart will be the point of contact for guidance regarding credentialing, and will advise the Board accordingly. (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment D.)

VII.

Jennifer Cottrill, parent, Kendall Cain, local business person, and Laura Watts (on behalf of Rock Wilson, Esq.) addressed the Board and distributed information regarding the proposed closure of Cairo Elementary, Ritchie County. (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment E.)

VIII.

Dr. Kenna R. Seal, Director, Office of Education Performance Audits, announced that a review committee will meet next week to begin work on Policy 2320 - Performance Based Accreditation System.

IX.

A random and unannounced Education Performance Audit was conducted in the Monroe County School System.

Upon recommendation of the OEPA, a motion by Howard M. Persinger, Jr., seconded by J. D. Morris, the Board issued the Monroe County School System Conditional Approval status, four (4) schools Conditional Accreditation status, and one (1) school is to remain on Seriously Impaired status. The Conditional Accreditation schools have an April 30, 2003 Date Certain to achieve Full Accreditation status regarding the education performance audit noncompliances. (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment F.)

X.

County boards are required to ensure that any school performing below the requirements for full accreditation status revise its Unified School Improvement Plan to increase the performance of the school to a full accreditation status level. The revised plan must include objectives, a time line, an evaluation component, cost estimates, and a date certain for achieving full accreditation. The chart found in the attachment summarizes the elements of the revised Unified School Improvement Plans for the schools in McDowell County and one (1) school in Tucker County.

Upon recommendation of the OEPA, a motion by J. D. Morris, seconded by James J. MacCallum, the Board approved the revised plan and upgraded nineteen (19) schools to Conditional Accreditation status and that two (2) schools are to remain on Seriously Impaired status until the annual performance measures are met. (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment G.)

XI.

Each county board of education is required to develop and submit an update to the Unified County Improvement Plan (UCIP) or an equivalent strategic plan to the West Virginia Office of Education Performance Audits by December 31. The West Virginia Board of Education reviewed fifty (50) UCIPs at the March meeting. Forty-four (44) plans were Approved; six (6) plans were Approved with Stipulations; three (3) plans were in the review process; and two (2) plans had not been received.

The attachment includes four (4) of the five (5) remaining Unified County Improvement Plans (UCIPs). McDowell County has been allowed an extension to develop and include the West Virginia Board of Education's conditions for a return to local authority.

Upon recommendation of the OEPA, a motion by J. D. Morris, seconded by Paul J. Morris, the Board approved of the Unified County Improvement Plans noted by an asterisk (*) in the attachment. (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment H.)

XII.

Barbara N. Fish moved and Paul J. Morris seconded that the prior modifications to the Consent Agenda be reconsidered. Motion carried.

Barbara N. Fish requested that the Marshall, Raleigh (closure of Marsh Fork High School), and Ritchie CEFPs be removed from the Consent Agenda for further discussion after the last item on the Consent Agenda. President Chapman requested that Proposals Recommended for 3% Statewide Project Funds of the School Building Authority of West Virginia and Office of School Facilities Inspection of Schools be removed from the Consent Agenda for further discussion and be placed after the Ritchie County CEFP.

Upon motion by Barbara N. Fish, seconded by James J. MacCallum, the Board approved the modifications to the Consent Agenda.

Upon motion by Paul J. Morris, seconded by Ronald B. Spencer, the Board approved the consent agenda as amended. (Copies appended to Official Minutes, Attachments I-V.)

Minutes

The Board approved the March 6 and 7, 2002 minutes. (Attachment I.)

The Board approved the budget supplement and transfer requests for the Month of March 2002 as follows: total supplements = $44,447,550.04 and total Transfers = $21,196,407.24, (Attachment J.)

The Board accepted the information provided regarding Policy 4355 - as of April 1, 2002, the Department of Education had received an additional 27 applications for a total of 1,171 applications for Operation Recognition in connection with Policy 4355: High School Diplomas for Veterans. (Attachment K.)

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

Board members were provided an update on Lincoln County. (Attachment M.)

Board members were provided an update on Mount View High School. (Attachment Mc.)

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

The Board approved the amendment clarification to the McDowell County CEFP to include provisions for the reconfiguration of Mt. View High School to Mt. View Middle/High School and the closure of Northfork Middle and Welch Middle Schools and the transfer of students to Mt. View Middle/High School. The Board accepted the clarification of the term "Mt. View Middle/High School" to mean Mt. View Middle School and Mt. View High School.

The Board approved the Cabell County Board of Education's request, as identified in its CEFP, to close Barboursville Elementary School and Pea Ridge Elementary School at the conclusion of the 2001-2002 school term, and the transfer of the pupils to the new Village of Barboursville Elementary School commencing with the 2002-2003 school term in August, 2002. (Attachment O.)

The Board approved the Kanawha County Board of Education's request to amend its CEFP. The CEFP not contain a provision for the relocation of Cabell Alternative School to the former site of Tyler Elementary School and the transfer of the pupils and staff at the beginning of the 2002-2003 school term and to relocate the Cabell Alternative School to the former Tyler Elementary site. (Attachment P.)

The Board approved the McDowell Board of Education's request, as identified in its CEFP, to close Northfork Middle School and Welch Middle School at the conclusion of the 2001-2002 school term, and the transfer of the pupils to Mt. View Middle School commencing with the 2002-2003 school term. (Attachment Q.)

The Board approved the Pendleton County Board of Education's ten (10) year CEFP. (Attachment R.)

The Board approved the Raleigh County Board of Education's request to amend its CEFP to reflect the county-wide transition to the middle school concept beginning with the 2003-2004 school year. The transition will involve all elementary schools to be reconfigured to grades K-5; junior high schools to be reconfigured to grades 6-8; and all high schools to be reconfigured to grades 9-12. (Attachment S.)

The Board approved the following seven (7) waiver requests: a) two (2) requests for continuation of waivers of State Board Policy; b) three (3) requests for continuation of instructional material adoption; and c) two (2) requests for waivers of instructional material adoption. (Attachment T.)

The Board approved twenty-five (25) county applications representing summer school at sixty-four (64) county locations. (Attachment U.)

The Board approved the 2002-2003 school calendar for the West Virginia Schools for the Deaf and the Blind. (Attachment V.)

XIII.

The Marshall County Board of Education requested approval of an amendment to its CEFP for the closure of Union Junior High School effective at the close of the 2001-2002 school year and the reconfiguration of John Marshall High School into a 9-12 school.

The 9th grade students will be transferred from Union Junior High School, Moundsville Junior High School, and Sherrard Junior High School to the reconfigured John Marshall High School. The 7^th and 8^th grade students from Union Junior High School will be transferred to Sherrard Junior High School.

G. A. McClung, Assistant State Superintendent, Division of Administrative Services, Rebecca Tinder, General Counsel to the State Board and State Department of Education, Superintendent David L. Wood and Kim Croyle, counsel for the Marshall County Board of Education, addressed the Board and verified that the Marshall County Board of Education met all statutes, policies and procedures pertaining to school closure and reconfiguration.

Upon motion by Howard M. Persinger, Jr., seconded by Paul J. Morris, the Board, with seven members voting yes and Barbara N. Fish voting no, approved the amendment to the Marshall County CEFP. (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment W.)

XIV.

The Raleigh County Board of Education requested approval for the closure of Marsh Fork High School as identified in its CEFP with the reassignment of 7^th and 8^th grade students to Trap Hill Middle School and the reassignment of 9^th through 12^th grade students to Liberty High School.

G. A. McClung and Rebecca Tinder addressed the Board and verified that the Raleigh County Board of Education met all statutes, policies and procedures pertaining to school closures and re-configurations.

Upon motion by Howard M. Persinger, Jr., seconded by Ronald B. Spencer, the Board approved the amendment to the Raleigh County CEFP. (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment X.)

XV.

President Chapman recessed the meeting for lunch at 12:01 p.m.

XVI.

President Chapman called the meeting back to order at 12:47 p.m.

XVII.

The Ritchie County Board of Education requested approval for the closure of Cairo Elementary School as identified in its CEFP and the transfer of the pupils to Harrisville Elementary School and Ellenboro Elementary School.

G. A. McClung, Rebecca Tinder, and Dr. Richard N. Butler, Superintendent of Ritchie County Schools, addressed the Board and verified that the Ritchie County Board of Education met all statutes, policies and procedures pertaining to school closure.

Upon motion by James J. MacCallum, seconded by J. D. Morris, the Board, with seven members voting yes and Barbara N. Fish voting no, approved the amendment to the Ritchie County CEFP. (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment Y.)

XVIII.

G. A. McClung provided the Board additional information regarding the criteria utilized to select the projects for funding. Three percent (3%) of the monies available to the School Building Authority of West Virginia may be expended by the Authority for projects upon application by the State Board of Education for programs that are under its jurisdiction.

Upon motion by Paul J. Morris, seconded by Ronald B. Spencer, the Board approved the recommendations as submitted. (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment Z.)

XIX.

G. A. McClung provided the Board additional information regarding the requirements of West Virginia Code §18-9D-16(h) that directs the West Virginia Department of Education to inspect all schools that were constructed or where major renovations have occurred that were funded by or in part by the School Building Authority of West Virginia. The following schools have been inspected by the Office of School Facilities:

County School

Braxton Braxton County Middle

Clay Clay Elementary Addition/Renovation

Clay Clay High Addition/Renovation

Clay Clay Middle

Lewis Lewis County High

Lewis Peterson-Central Elementary

McDowell Sandy River Middle

Mercer Pikeview High

Pendleton North Fork Elementary

Pendleton Pendleton County High

Ritchie Ritchie County High

Roane Roane County High

Roane Spencer Primary Center Addition

Tucker Tucker County High Addition

Tucker Tucker Valley Elementary/Middle

Webster Webster County High HVAC Renovation

Wirt Wirt County High

Wirt Wirt County Middle

Wirt Wirt County Primary Center

Upon motion by Howard M. Persinger, Jr., seconded by Sheila M. Hamilton, the Board accepted the report of schools inspected by the Office of School Facilities. (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment AA.)

XX.

Barbara N. Fish discussed her participation in the National Association of State Boards of Education Low Performing Schools study group and recommended all members obtain a copy of a publication entitled "No Excuses".

J. D. Morris shared activities of the Educational Broadcasting Authority.

Paul J. Morris provided a report regarding the evaluation forms for the State Superintendent and Director of the Office of Education Performance Audits. Additional information was received from Howard Persinger and will be shared with all members for possible incorporation into next year's forms. All members will be provided a copy of the current forms for completion and return to the Board's secretary by May 3.

President Chapman reported that nominations for the 2003 NASBE Board of Directors are fast approaching and any member interested in making a nomination must notify the Board's secretary as soon as possible so that an item can be placed on the May agenda.

President Chapman appointed Ronald B. Spencer to assist John Hough in the promotional efforts regarding the grammar and wrongful conduct initiatives.

President Chapman reported that NASBE representatives will present during the Board's July work session regarding promotional efforts and public relations issues.

Rebecca Tinder provided an update regarding the use of instructional time. President Chapman requested, and the Board agreed, that a detailed report be presented at the June meeting regarding the meaningful utilization of time in before and after school care and that an initiative be undertaken in this regard. (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment BB.)

G. A. McClung provided the Title II Higher Education Report Card. Policy 5100-Approval of Educational Personnel Programs requires all professional preparation programs in West Virginia to provide data about their programs. Title II of the Higher Education Act now requires all states to collect, compile and report data to the U.S. Office of Education about the quality of teacher education graduates from the teacher preparation institutions in the state. This is the second year that the state has participated in this process.

As part of this process, all 18 higher education institutions were required to release their individual report cards to the West Virginia Department of Education by March 26, 2002 and to the general public by April 8, 2002. A bound copy of the 18 individual institution's reports may be found in the attachment. In addition, institutions are required to publish this information in college catalogs, teacher recruitment brochures and/or teacher education handbooks.

From these reports, the West Virginia Department of Education will compile the state report that is to be released in the state and then sent to the U.S. Office of Education for national release in April 2003. (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment CC.)

XXI.

Bill Luff, Deputy Superintendent, presented Policy 2510 for the Board's consideration. Policy 2510 has been revised to incorporate provisions agreed to during the March meeting and to incorporate certain changes necessitated by legislation passed during the 2002 session.

Following a lengthy discussion, action on this item was tabled until April 24, 2002. Additional revisions will be made to the policy and provided to members prior to the April 24 meeting.

Upon motion by James J. MacCallum, seconded by Paul J. Morris, the Board removed Policy 2510, filed with the Office of the Secretary of State on February 15, 2002, from public comment. (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment DD.)

XXII.

Paul Barcus, Assistant Superintendent of Wetzel County Schools and Chair of the West Virginia Staff Development Advisory Council, presented the Statewide Staff Development Plan for the Board's consideration. The West Virginia Board of Education annually approves a statewide Professional development plan based upon State Board approved professional development goals for West Virginia educators. This year the State Board adopted both goals and objectives at its December 2001 meeting. The plan for 2002-2003 is the result of the coordinated work of the ten agencies responsible for submitting this plan: the West Virginia Department of Education, the eight Regional Education Service Agencies, and the West Virginia Center for Professional Development. Working as a coordinated unit, representatives of each of these ten agencies met and developed one professional development plan. The West Virginia Staff Development Advisory Council approved the plan for submission to the West Virginia Board of Education.

President Chapman requested that modification be made to characteristic three (add the word "manifests a" at the beginning of the sentence) and add a ninth characteristic "uses, models, and requires proper grammar".

Upon motion by Barbara N. Fish, seconded by Howard M. Persinger, Jr., the Board accepted the Professional Development Plan for West Virginia, June 1, 2002 - May 31, 2003 as amended. (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment EE.)

XXIII.

Dr. Pamela Sumpter-Cain, Assistant State Superintendent, Division of Instructional and Student Services, presented Policy 4110 for the Board's consideration. At the January, 2002 meeting of Board, Policy 4110 was approved to be placed on public comment until February 11, 2002. Subsequent to that comment period, additional revisions have been made to the policy.

Upon motion by Howard M. Persinger, Jr., seconded by James J. MacCallum, the Board withdrew the January 2002 version of Policy 4110 from consideration.

XXIV.

G. A. McClung presented four new content specializations for the Board's consideration. 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 March 21, 2002 and recommended the following programs to the West Virginia Board of Education for approval: Concord College, Multi-Categorical Special Education (Grades K-12); Davis and Elkins College, Theater (Grade Level Not Specified); West Virginia University-Parkersburg, English (Grades 5-9) and Social Studies (Grades 5-9). These programs will be effective May 1, 2002.

Upon motion by Howard M. Persinger, Jr., seconded by Paul J. Morris, the Board approved the content specializations as recommended by the Program Review Board.

XXV.

Rebecca Tinder provided Policy 1340 for the Board's consideration. Revisions to Policy 1340 are being recommended to permit certification hearings to be conducted by the State Superintendent, members of the West Virginia Commission for Professional Teaching Standards, or an employee of the West Virginia Department of Education as a result of the legislative amendment to West Virginia Code §18A-3-6 by Senate Bill 247.

Upon motion by Howard M. Persinger, Jr., seconded by James J. MacCallum, the Board placed Policy 1340 on public comment until May 20 for action at the June meeting. (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment FF.)

XXVI.

Dr. Pamela Sumpter-Cain presented Policy 4110 for the Board's consideration. At the January, 2002 meeting of Board, Policy 4110 was approved to be placed on public comment until February 11, 2002. Subsequent to that comment period, additional revisions, as reflected in the executive summary, have been made to the policy. President Chapman requested that the last sentence under rationale be modified during the comment period to reflect that the Board, as well as state law, requires school administrators to enforce compulsory school attendance and to provide an environment conducive to and encouraging of attendance.

Upon motion by James J. MacCallum, seconded by Howard M. Persinger, Jr., the Board placed the revised Policy 4110 on public comment until May 21, 2002. (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment GG.)

XXVII.

Dr. Stan Hopkins, Assistant State Superintendent, Division of Technical and Adult Education, presented Policy 2520 for the Board's consideration. The West Virginia Board of Education has approved Policy 2520, Content Standards and Objectives for West Virginia Schools. This proposed policy change adds the Content Standards and Objectives for Technical and Adult Education courses in the areas of Agricultural Education, Business Education, Diversified Cooperative Training, Family & Consumer Sciences, Health Occupations, Lodging Management,

Marketing Education, Occupational Family & Consumer Science, Technical and Industrial Education, Technology Education and Travel West Virginia.

Barbara N. Fish requested that appropriate promotional efforts be undertaken to alert the public that this policy has been placed on public comment.

Upon motion by Ronald B. Spencer, seconded by James J. MacCallum, the Board placed the Content Standards and Objectives for Technical and Adult Education courses on public comment until June 21, 2002 for action at the July meeting. (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment HH.)

XXVIII.

The next meeting of the West Virginia Board of Education will take place on May 8-9, 2002 in Wetzel County, West Virginia.

XXIX.

Upon motion by James J. MacCallum, seconded by Barbara N. Fish, the Board adjourned at 3:02 p.m.

Minutes approved by the Board on May 9, 2002.

__________________________________________

Sandra M. Chapman, President

wvbeminutes4/18/02