WEST VIRGINIA BOARD OF EDUCATION

Wetzel County Schools

Magnolia High School

601 Maple Avenue

New Martinsville, West Virginia

May 9, 2002

I.

President Sandra M. Chapman called the meeting of the West Virginia Board of Education to order at 8:30 a.m. on May 9, 2002, in the library at Magnolia High School, 601 Maple Avenue, New Martinsville, West Virginia.

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

II.

Dr. Martha Dean, Superintendent of Wetzel County Schools, welcomed the Board, introduced Wetzel County Board of Education members, county personnel and principals in attendance, and provided a brief overview of the county's accomplishments.

Eileen Miller, speech teacher at Magnolia High School, introduced Sarah Goldstein who gave her award-winning speech, "The Constitution: A Symphony of Freedom."

III.

Sarah Beth McLellan, a junior from Fairmont Senior High School, Marion County, distributed information and addressed the Board regarding the limitations of current science education requirements, especially science 10. (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment A.)

IV.

Upon motion by Howard M. Persinger, Jr., seconded by Paul J. Morris, the Board approved the agenda with following modification: Mrs. Fish requested the April 18 minutes be removed from the Consent agenda. This item was moved to precede immediately the Consent Agenda.

V.

Dr. Kenna R. Seal, Director, Office of Education Performance Audits, reported that an audit of Kanawha County Schools is currently underway.

VI.

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

Upon recommendation of the OEPA, a motion by J. D. Morris, seconded by Sheila M. Hamilton, the Board issued the Monongalia County School System Conditional Approval status, recognized five (5) schools for Exemplary Accreditation status, granted seven (7) schools Full Accreditation status, and issued twelve (12) schools Conditional Accreditation status. (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment B.)

VII.

An on-site review of the Wayne County School System was conducted November 24 - December 2, 1999. A follow-up Education Performance Audit Team returned to Wayne County May 1 - 2, 2001. Three (3) schools were cited with new noncompliances. A Second Follow-up Education Performance Audit Team returned to Wayne County on April 10 and 12, 2002. The purpose of the return Team visit was to verify correction of the new noncompliances.

Upon recommendation of the OEPA, a motion by Paul J. Morris, seconded by Howard M. Persinger, Jr., the Board issued the Wayne County School System Full Approval status, granted Full Accreditation status to nineteen (19) schools, and continued Conditional Accreditation status in two (2) schools. (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment C.)

VIII.

Policy 2320: A Process for Improving Education - Performance Based Accreditation System, must be revised to include the requirements of House Bill 4319 passed during the 2002 session of the West Virginia Legislature.

Upon motion by Howard M. Persinger, Jr., seconded by Sheila M. Hamilton, the Board placed Policy 2320 on public comment until June 19, 2002, for action at the July meeting. (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment D.)

IX.

Mrs. Fish requested a modification to the April 18, 2002 minutes as follows: at XII. Consent Agenda, first paragraph, the concern being that it was repetitive of the original motion. Rebecca Tinder and Bill Luff provided the following clarification: due to the fact that the original motion was being reconsidered, the original motion was voided and the new motion had to reflect all actions.

Upon motion by J. D. Morris, seconded by Paul J. Morris, the Board approved the minutes as written. (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment E.)

X.

Upon motion by Paul J. Morris, seconded by Howard M. Persinger, Jr., the Board approved the consent agenda. (Copies appended to Official Minutes, Attachments F- L.)

The Board approved the April 17, 2002 and April 24, 2002 minutes. (Attachment F.)

The Board approved the budget supplement and transfer requests for the month of April 2002

as follows: Total Supplements = $8,543,406 and Total Transfers = $8,108,086. (Attachment G.)

The Board accepted the information provided regarding Policy 4355 - as of April 18, 2002, the Department of Education had received an additional five (5) applications for a total of 1,180 applications for Operation Recognition in connection with Policy 4355: High School Diplomas for Veterans. (Attachment H.)

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

The Board approved two (2) requests for continuation of instructional material adoption and one (1) request for State Board policy waiver. The Board denied two (2) requests for a waiver of State Board policy. (Attachment J.)

The Board approved six (6) county applications representing summer school at thirteen (13) schools. (Attachment K.)

The Board approved two waiver requests. (Attachment L.)

XI.

Barbara N. Fish reported that she was the keynote speaker at the annual State Conference of the West Virginia Parent Teacher Association held on April 20, 2002, in Huntington. Her address explained the Seven Refined Goals for Education and emphasized the need for parental involvement in order for these goals to be achieved.

Mrs. Fish also reported on the progress of the WVDE/DHHR/OSEP Continuous Improvement Self Assessment. The report of the Steering Committee, of which she is a member, will be presented to the State Board in October. The committee has been working since January, 2001.

J. D. Morris provided an update regarding the Public Broadcasting Authority.

President Chapman noted a comment received from a Wetzel County principal regarding the Student Code of Conduct.

Julia Lee, Coordinator of Fine Arts, Office of Instructional Services, and Lakin Cook, Education Manager, Clay Center for the Arts & Sciences, distributed information and provided a progress report regarding the WV Fine Arts Assessment Feasibility Study.

In October and November 2001, the WV Department of Education sponsored six community forums around the state to determine the feasibility of developing a statewide arts assessment. These forums, funded in part by the National Endowment for the Arts, focused on two questions: What currently used assessment tools in WV arts classes are successful? What ideas, questions and concerns are facing the implementation of a statewide arts assessment? At each forum, answers to these discussed questions were recorded and survey forms were completed.

Attendance was reported as low and promotional efforts were questioned.

The purpose of this progress report to the State Board was two-fold: to reveal the findings and to report on the project's action plan proposed thus far by the WV Arts Assessment Steering Committee. (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment M.)

XII.

Rebecca Tinder, counsel to the Board and Department, addressed the Board regarding Policy 2430. Policy 2430 was developed and placed on public comment in December 2001. Due to modification of the Student and Employee Codes of Conduct this proposed policy is now not needed.

President Chapman requested that Board action taken regarding this policy be fully explained to the public through appropriate promotion and press, effectively and promptly delivered.

Upon motion by Howard M. Persinger, Jr., seconded by Paul J. Morris, the Board withdrew Policy 2430 from public comment and from the roster of Board policies.

XIII.

G. A. McClung, Assistant State Superintendent, Division of Administrative Services, presented Policy 4320 for the Board's consideration. Revisions to Policy 4320 were required to bring the policy in line with regulatory changes and to ensure efficient operations in school nutrition programs. Approval will allow the Department to assist counties in compliance with United States Department of Agriculture.

Upon motion by Paul J. Morris, seconded by Sheila M. Hamilton, the Board placed Policy 4320 on public comment for action at the July meeting. (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment Mc.)

XIV.

Bill Luff, Deputy State Superintendent, addressed the Board regarding a uniform grading policy. Mr. Luff reported that South Carolina and Arkansas have uniform grading policies. The promulgation of such a policy and its implementation would be for a future graduating class. A number of issues, including weighted grades, must be addressed prior to the promulgation of such a rule.

Dr. Stewart distributed, and Rebecca Tinder provided comments regarding, a superintendent's interpretation dealing with weighted grades. (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment N.)

President Chapman requested that further study/research take place regarding this issue and that the Board be provided a report during the August work session.

XV.

G. A. McClung presented Policy 5301 for the Board's consideration. Policy 5301 is being revised to reflect the changes made to W.Va. Code §18A-4-8a during the recent legislative session. The statute was revised to increase the monthly educational salary increments for service personnel who have completed twelve, twenty-four, thirty-six, forty-eight, sixty, seventy-two, eighty-four, ninety-six, one hundred eight, and one hundred twenty hours of college or comparable training in a trade or vocational school from $10/month to $11/month; to increase the bonus for those with college degrees to $40 for each level, including associate, bachelor's, master's, or doctorate; and to add monthly salary increments of $11/month for those with BA+15, MA+15, MA+30, MA+45, and MA+60.

Upon motion by J. D. Morris, seconded by Paul J. Morris, the Board placed Policy 5301 on public comment until June 14, 2002, for action at the July meeting. (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment O.)

XVI.

President Chapman asked Superintendent Stewart and Dr. Seal if they wished this portion of the agenda be in open or closed session. Upon Superintendent Stewart's and Dr. Seal's response that the session be closed, President Chapman called for a motion to move into executive session to discuss the evaluations and legal/personnel matters.

Upon motion by Howard M. Persinger, Jr., seconded by J. D. Morris, and in accordance with the provisions of Peters v. County Commission, 519 S.E.2d 179 (W.Va. 1999) and W.Va. Code §6-9A-4(b)(2)(A), the Board entered into Executive Session at 10:11 a.m.

XVII.

The Board returned from Executive Session at 2:11 p.m. at which time President Chapman announced no action was taken and no decisions made.

XVIII.

The next regular meeting of the West Virginia Board of Education will be held June 5-6, 2002 at the West Virginia Schools for the Deaf and the Blind in Romney, West Virginia.

XIX.

Upon motion by Howard M. Persinger, Jr., seconded by J. D. Morris, the Board adjourned at 2:12 p.m.

Minutes approved by the Board on June 6, 2002.

_______________________________________________

Sandra M. Chapman, President

wvbeminutes5/9/02