MINUTESWEST VIRGINIA BOARD OF EDUCATION

Board Conference Room

Capitol Building 6, Room 353

1900 Kanawha Boulevard, East

Charleston, West Virginia

March 12, 2003

I.   Call to Order

President H. M. Persinger Jr., called the meeting of the West Virginia Board of Education to order at 2:00 p.m. on March 12, 2003, in the Board Conference Room, Capitol Building 6, Room 353, 1900 Kanawha Boulevard, East, Charleston, West Virginia.

The following members were present: President Persinger, Vice-President Sandra M. Chapman, Secretary Ronald B. Spencer,  Delores W. Cook, Barbara N. Fish (via telephone), Priscilla M. Haden, Sheila M. Hamilton, Lloyd G. Jackson II, Paul J. Morris, David Stewart, State Superintendent of  Schools and  J. Michael Mullen, Chancellor, the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission.  Special note:  Barbara N. Fish and J. Michael Mullen were not present at the time the meeting was called to order but joined the meeting as noted elsewhere in these minutes.

II. Approval of Agenda

Upon motion by Sandra M. Chapman, second by Delores W. Cook, the State Board unanimously approved the agenda with the following modifications: change the title of item VIII to Evaluation of State Board Staff and renumber the remaining items. 

III. Report - Budget

Mike McKown, Executive Director, Office of Internal Operations, Division of Administrative Services, distributed and discussed print-outs entitled "Fiscal Year 2004 Appropriation Summary" and "Summary of General Revenue Appropriations".  Mr. McKown and State Superintendent Stewart explained the budget process.  Mr. McKown was requested to provide State Board members a budget summary of non-flow-through monies on a quarterly basis and a finalized budget for 2004.  Priscilla M. Haden requested that the August agenda contain an item to begin discussion of the budget for 2005.  Chancellor Mullen suggested that the State Board consider the base budget prior to the August meeting.  State Superintendent Stewart indicated an item would be added to the July agenda regarding the 2005 budget.  (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment A.)   Special note: Chancellor Mullen joined the meeting during this presentation.

IV.   Report - Testing

Jan Barth, Executive Director, Office of Student Services and Assessment, Division of Instructional and Student Services, distributed information and provided the State Board an update regarding the testing process.  Dr. Barth also discussed proposed changes to Policy 2340, The Statewide Assessment Program, which will be brought before the State Board in April for placement on public comment.  (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment B.)

V. Break

President Persinger called for a break at 3:58 p.m.

VI. Call to Order

President Persinger called the meeting back to order at 4:09 p.m.  Special note: Barbara N. Fish joined the meeting.

VII. School Improvement Memorandum of Understanding

Steven L. Paine, Deputy State Superintendent of Schools and Steve McBride, Executive Director, School Improvement/Instructional Materials, Division of Instructional and Student Services, distributed and addressed the State Board regarding a modified proposed Memorandum of Understanding regarding school improvement.  In order to facilitate the process of school improvement in West Virginia schools, this Memorandum of Understanding was developed to delineate the roles of the West Virginia Department of Education, the Office of Education Performance Audits, the Center for Professional Development, and Regional Education Service Agencies.  The Memorandum, a collaborative agreement between the State Board and the Secretary of the Department of Education and the Arts, will assure efficiency of operation of the aforementioned agencies.

This document was promulgated at the request of the Legislative Oversight Commission on Education Accountability and the Chairs of House and Senate Education.  Numerous concerns with the document were addressed.

Upon motion by Priscilla M. Haden, second by Paul J. Morris, the State Board unanimously tabled action on the Memorandum of Understanding to allow Department staff to make requested modifications.  The document, as revised, will be placed on the April agenda for further discussion and possible action.  (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment C and addendum.)

VIII. No Child Left Behind Update

Pamela S. Cain, Assistant State Superintendent, Division of Instructional and Student Services, distributed information and provided the State Board an update regarding the Department's progress in securing United States Department of Education approval of the Accountability Plan.  Notification of the results of the peer review has not been received.  (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment D.)

IX. Evaluation Instruments for State Board Staff

Paul J. Morris distributed and discussed draft evaluation instruments for the State Superintendent and the Director of the Office of Education Performance Audits.  Mr. Morris indicated his desire to finalize the evaluation instruments at the April meeting and requested members provide him feedback as quickly as possible.  President Persinger requested that  State Superintendent Stewart provide suggested evaluation instruments for the Superintendent of the West Virginia Schools for the Deaf and the Blind and the Executive Secretary to the State Board.  (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment E.)

President Persinger, with the common consent of the State Board, removed the Legal and/or Personnel Matters item from the agenda.

X. Future Meetings

The next regular meeting of the State Board will be held March 13, 2003 in Capitol Building 6, Room 353, 1900 Kanawha Boulevard, East, Charleston, West Virginia.

XI. Adjournment

Upon motion by Priscilla M. Haden, second by Sheila M. Hamilton, the State Board adjourned at 5:10 p.m.

                                                            Minutes approved by the State Board on April 17, 2003.

                                      _____________________________________________

                                     H. M. Persinger Jr., President

wvbeminutes3/12/03