MINUTESWEST VIRGINIA BOARD OF EDUCATION

James Monroe High School

Route 1, Box 97-1-A

James Monroe Drive

Lindside, West Virginia

April 16, 2003

I.   Call to Order

President H. M. Persinger Jr., called the meeting of the West Virginia Board of Education to order at 12:57 p.m. on April 16, 2003, in the large lecture room at James Monroe High School, Lindside, West Virginia.

The following members were present: President Persinger, Vice-President Sandra M. Chapman,  Delores W. Cook, Barbara N. Fish, Priscilla M. Haden, Sheila M. Hamilton, Lloyd G. Jackson II, Paul J. Morris, and David Stewart, State Superintendent of  Schools. Members absent were:  Secretary Ronald B. Spencer and  J. Michael Mullen, Chancellor, the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission. Special note: Sheila M. Hamilton and Paul J. Morris joined the meeting during the showcase.

II. Recess 

President Persinger recessed the meeting at 12:58 p.m. to move the auditorium for the showcase presentation.

III. Welcome and Showcase

Lyn Guy, Superintendent of Monroe County Schools, welcomed the State Board to Monroe County.  Following the welcome the State Board enjoyed a showcase presentation highlighting Monroe County Schools.

IV. Return from Recess

President Persinger called the meeting back to order at 1:25 p.m.

V. Approval of Agenda

Upon motion by Barbara N. Fish, second by Paul J. Morris, the State Board unanimously approved the agenda with the following modification:  President Persinger requested that the Grammar for All presentation be moved to immediately follow the Approval of the Agenda as well as other presentations as necessary in order to allow time for a presenter of the Before/After Care presentation to arrive due to a schedule change.

VI. Grammar for All

Pamela S. Cain, Assistant State Superintendent, Division of Instructional and Student Services and Liza Cordeiro, Executive Director, Communications Office, provided the State Board a progress report, including instructional videos produced by Wheeling Park High School and  Kenova Elementary,  regarding the Grammar for All initiative. (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment A.)

VII. Policy 2515 - Uniform Grading System Update

Steven L. Paine, Deputy State Superintendent, provided the State Board an update regarding Policy 2515.  George Krelis, Assistant Superintendent, and James A. McGlumphy, Technology/Science Coordinator, Ohio County Schools, Ronald E. Duerring, Superintendent and Cindy Daniels, Assistant Superintendent, Kanawha County Schools, and Barbara Stout, Assistant Superintendent, Wetzel County Schools, distributed information and addressed the State Board regarding Policy 2515.

Discussion ensued regarding the merits of a policy pertaining to grading, including the proposed policy or including a grading scale only.  A revised policy will be presented for a vote in May.  (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment B.)

President Persinger informed the assembly that the Before/After Care presentation must take place in the auditorium and relocated the meeting to the auditorium.  President Persinger also advised that, following the presentation, the meeting would resume in the lecture room after a ten minute break.

VIII. Before/After Care

Sandra M. Chapman and Stanley Hopkins, Assistant State Superintendent, Division of Technical and Adult Education, introduced Patty Jeffries, teacher, Summers County, and the "Hinton Area Kids in Dramatic Studies (HAEKIDS)."  Also introduced was Rebecca Eerenberg (a former HAEKID and presently a student/assistant director).  The students delighted the State Board with a brief presentation of "Peter Pan in Neverland".  The presentation was followed by a question and answer session with the State Board.

IX. Return from Break

President Persinger called the meeting back to order at 3:31 p.m.

X. Proposed Policy 5500 - Professional Development

Karen Larry, Executive Assistant to the State Superintendent of Schools, addressed the State Board and distributed information regarding W.Va. Code and proposed Policy 5500, Professional Development.  Policy 5500 has been developed to define professional development as stated in the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, to outline the operation of professional development within the West Virginia Department of Education and within county staff development councils, and to coordinate professional development within the state.

Ms. Larry provided the State Board a side-by-side comparison of state law and current policy with the proposed policy in order to address specific concerns that had been shared by State Board members.  Following Ms. Larry's presentation it was the consensus of the State Board that the policy should be more reflective of the State Board's role and authority.  Barbara N. Fish requested that the role of the RESA be incorporated into the policy.  It was also the consensus of the State Board that the answer was yes to all questions posed by Ms. Larry regarding the policy and that work should continue on policy refinement.  Barbara N. Fish requested the policy contain the definition for high quality teachers and stated that as the evaluation element is a key part of the policy its development should be in concert with the policy.  Lloyd G. Jackson II asked if a mechanism could be added in the policy that allows evaluation (accountability) of local staff professional development based on student performance/achievement.  Ms. Larry responded in the affirmative.  (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment C.)

XI. Communications/Public Relations/On-line Calendar

Liza Cordeiro, Executive Director, Communications Office, and Karen Larry distributed information and provided the State Board an update regarding communications and public relations efforts and demonstrated, via computer, the Department's on-line calendar.  (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment D.)

XII. Annual Performance Appraisal Instruments

Paul J. Morris and President Persinger addressed the State Board regarding the annual appraisal instruments to be used for the State Superintendent of Schools, Director of the Office of Education Performance Audits (OEPA), Superintendent of the West Virginia Schools for the Deaf and the Blind, and the Executive Secretary to the State Board.  Superintendent Stewart and OEPA Director Seal were directed to complete their responsibilities with regard to their individual appraisal instruments for submission at the May meeting.  Following the submissions the State Board will review the submissions and provided their individual assessments by May 30 to Paul J. Morris.  Mr. Morris requested the assessments be sent to the State Board's Executive Secretary with the direction that the  appraisal instrument for the Executive Secretary be sent in a separate sealed envelope that will be provided in its sealed state to Mr. Morris.  Appraisal reviews will take place on Wednesday, June 11.  (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment E.)

President Persinger asked the State Board to place June 5 on their calendars, for an orientation/training session at Cedar Lakes, beginning at 8:30 a.m.   Following discussion it was also decided that a meeting with the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission will be planned by the State Superintendent Stewart and President Persinger in consultation with Chancellor Mullen.

XV. Future Meetings

The next regular meeting of the State Board will be held April 17, 2003 in the Monroe County Board Office, Union, West Virginia.

XVI. Adjournment

Upon motion by Lloyd G. Jackson II, second by Delores W. Cook, the State Board adjourned at 5:07 p.m.

                                                               Minutes approved by the State Board on May 15, 2003.

                                      _____________________________________________

                                     H. M. Persinger Jr., President

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