WEST VIRGINIA BOARD OF EDUCATION

MINUTES

WEST VIRGINIA BOARD OF EDUCATION

West Virginia Schools for the Deaf and the Blind

School for the Blind Auditorium

301 East Main Street

Romney, West Virginia

June 5, 2002

I.

President Sandra M. Chapman called the meeting of the West Virginia Board of Education to order at 1:04 p.m. on June 5, 2002, in the School for the Blind Auditorium at the West Virginia Schools for the Deaf and the Blind, 301 East Main Street, Romney, 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.

Jane McBride, Superintendent of the the West Virginia Schools for the Deaf and the Blind, welcomed the Board.

III.

Upon motion by Howard M. Persinger, Jr., second by J.D. Morris, the Board approved the agenda with the following modification: under Old Business move Item A. WVSSAC Rules to follow Item E. No Child Left Behind Consolidated Application.

IV.

Superintendent McBride introduced Hampshire County Schools Superintendent Gerald Mathias. Mr. Mathias introduced county staff members and teachers in attendance. Following introductions, Romney Elementary school teachers and students demonstrated phonics lessons and Hampshire High School's show choir, "Harmony," entertained the Board with selections from "West Side Story."

Superintendent McBride introduced Schools for the Deaf and the Blind administrative staff and called the Board's attention to student artwork on display in the meeting room.

Students from the School for the Deaf provided a Power Point presentation regarding their accomplishments.

Students from the School for the Blind addressed the Board regarding their accomplishments and demonstrated technological advancements in printed matter. Following the demonstration, the "Mountain Melodies" and "Tapestry" entertained the Board with a number of musical selections.

V.

President Chapman called for a break at 2:12 p.m.

VI.

President Chapman called the meeting back to order at 2:38 p.m. and requested that Mr. Aloi with the West Virginia State Bar be heard.

VII.

Michael Aloi, Esq., President, West Virginia State Bar, discussed a proposed mentor partnership program between the Board and the West Virginia State Bar. Mr. Aloi stated that a questionnaire is being prepared that will be mailed to all state attorneys to ascertain their interest and willingness to serve in the schools. Responses will be entered into a database that will be available on the State Bar's web site by Fall 2002. Mr. Aloi requested that the Board notify him of any language it would like included in the questionnaire. Dr. Stewart stated he would announce this program to county superintendents in June. (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment A.)

President Chapman requested the State Bar's assistance with the Board's grammar and wrongful conduct initiatives in the course of the aforesaid effort.

Bill Luff, Deputy State Superintendent of Schools, provided an update regarding promotional initiatives and the annual report. Assistance is being sought and will be secured to promote Board initiatives and a draft of the annual report will be provided at the July meeting.

President Chapman presented a draft agenda for the July 10 work session and information collected from several states for the Board's review. (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment B.)

Dr. Stewart shared a videotape of a visit he enjoyed at his office with kindergarten students from Greenbrier County. Following this presentation Dr. Cathy Jones, Coordinator, Office of Instructional Services, distributed a summary of S.B. 247 and provided an update regarding early childhood activities and Project Even Start.

President Chapman requested Dr. Jones provide a presentation to the School Building Authority regarding the state of pre-schools throughout the state and Mrs. Fish requested Dr. Jones address the School Boards Association at its fall conference. (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment C.)

VIII.

G. A. McClung, Assistant State Superintendent, Division of Administrative Services, and Mike Hayden, Executive Secretary, West Virginia Secondary School Activities Commission (WVSSAC), addressed the Board regarding proposed revisions to the WVSSAC rules.

J. D. Morris, Ronald B. Spencer and Paul J. Morris discussed Proposal #3 and indicated a need for further clarification. J. D. Morris voiced a concern regarding Proposal #11. Following discussion, it was decided that the graduation requirements found in Policy 2510 addressed Mr. Morris' concern regarding Proposal #11. Mrs. Fish asked why Proposal #1 keeps coming before the Board. Members who represent the Board on the WVSSAC addressed Mrs. Fish's concern. Mr. Spencer indicated his support of the Department's recommendations regarding the WVSSAC rules.

Mr. Hayden requested that J. D. Morris' request for clarification of Proposal #3 be dealt with during next year's rule changes. Clarification was also requested of the Department's Legal Services Office regarding the Board's authority when approving or disapproving WVSSAC rules.

President Chapman requested that Mr. Hayden continue to assist the Board in the implementation of the Board's wrongful conduct policies. Mrs. Fish shared a comment she recently received from a teacher regarding the Employee Code of Conduct that bullying by coaches must be addressed.

IX.

Bill Luff addressed the Board regarding Policy 2510 and reviewed changes made to the policy as a result of comments received during the public comment period. The need for a uniform grading system was also discussed and an item regarding this issue will be brought before the Board for further discussion at its August meeting. President Chapman requested that the Board be listed first and not second to any other entity throughout the document. Mr. Luff indicated that requested changes will be made to the document prior to its submission to the Secretary of State's office and after action by the Board on June 6.

X.

Lenore Zedosky, Executive Director, Office of Healthy Schools, Karen Huffman, Assistant Director, Office of Student Services and Assessment, and Rebecca Tinder, General Counsel to the Board and the Department, addressed the Board and distributed additional comments regarding the Student and Employee Codes of Conduct. (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment D.)

Discussion ensued and additional corrections to the document were requested.

XI.

President Chapman called for a break at 5:35 p.m.

XII.

President Chapman called the meeting back to order at 5:45 p.m. and discussion continued regarding the Student Code of Conduct.

Mr. Persinger moved that the meeting be suspended until after dinner.

XIII.

President Chapman recessed the meeting at 5:52 p.m. to allow the Board to enjoy dinner with graduating seniors of the West Virginia Schools for the Deaf and the Blind.

XIV.

President Chapman called the meeting back to order at 7:29 p.m. and discussion continued regarding the Student Code of Conduct. Upon conclusion of the discussion staff asked if corrected copies were to be provided to the Board on June 6; the answer was no, corrections must be made prior to the filing of the policy with the Secretary of State's office.

President Chapman requested that appropriate press releases be provided on both codes of conduct and Policy 2510 following Board action.

Lenore Zedosky addressed the Board regarding a minor change that was made to the Employee Code of Conduct. Following discussion minor editorial changes are to be made to the policy prior to Board action on June 6.

XV.

Tony Smedley, Executive Director, Office of Human Resources, addressed the Board regarding changes to Policy 5310 that are necessary due to recent Legislative action, specifically H.B. 4319.

XVI.

Discussion of this item was postponed until June 6.

XVII.

The next regular meeting of the West Virginia Board of Education will be held June 6, 2002 in the School for the Blind Auditorium at the West Virginia Schools for the Deaf and the Blind, 301 East Main Street, Romney, West Virginia.

XVIII.

Upon motion by James J. MacCallum, second by Sheila M. Hamilton, the Board adjourned at 8:30 p.m.

Minutes approved by the Board on July 11, 2002.

__________________________________________

Sandra M. Chapman, President

wvbeminutes6/5/02