MINUTES

WEST VIRGINIA BOARD OF EDUCATION

Board Conference Room

Capitol Building 6, Room 353

1900 Kanawha Boulevard, East

Charleston, West Virginia

December 10, 2003

I.   Call to Order

President Sandra M. Chapman called the regular meeting of the West Virginia Board of Education to order at 1:02 p.m. on December 10, 2003, in the Board Conference Room, Capitol Building 6, Room 353, 1900 Kanawha Boulevard, East, Charleston, West Virginia.

The following members were present: President Chapman, Vice-President Barbara N. Fish, Secretary Sheila M. Hamilton, Delores W. Cook, Priscilla M. Haden, Paul J. Morris, Ronald B. Spencer and ex officios David Stewart, State Superintendent of Schools, and J. Michael Mullen, Chancellor, the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission.

II. Approval of Agenda

Upon motion by Ms. Haden, seconded by Mrs. Hamilton, the Board unanimously approved the agenda as presented.

III. Fiscal Status of the State of West Virginia

Governor Bob Wise addressed the Board regarding the fiscal status of the State of West Virginia. 

IV. Matters Regarding West Virginia School Boards Association/

West Virginia Board of Education School Board Member

Training Standards Review Committee (TSRC) 

Howard O'Cull, Executive Director, West Virginia School Boards Association, addressed the Board regarding the work of the Training Standards Review Committee including the suggested number of members to serve on the committee, the reappointment of Mrs. Hamilton, Mr. Morris, and Mr. Spencer to the committee, and  approval of the revised TSRC Procedures of Operations.  (Copy appended to Official Minutes of December11, 2003 at Attachment W.)

V. Policy 2520.15 - Early Learning Standards Framework Content Standards and Learning Criteria for

West Virginia Pre-kindergarten (WV-Pre-k)

Cathy R. Jones, Coordinator, Division of Instructional and Students Services, provided brief remarks and addressed questions regarding proposed Policy 2520.15, Early Learning Standards Framework - Content Standards and Learning Criteria for West Virginia Pre-kindergarten (WV-Pre-k).  President Chapman, with the Board's approval, indicated that she will request that this item be moved from New Business to the Consent Agenda under New Business during tomorrow's meeting.  (Copy appended to Official Minutes of December 11, 2003 at Attachment T.)

VI. Policy 5309 - County Superintendent Performance Evaluations

Rebecca Tinder, General Counsel to the Board and the Department, provided brief remarks and addressed questions regarding the proposed adoption of Policy 5309, County Superintendent Performance Evaluations.  Minor editorial corrections were requested to be made to the policy and provided to the Board at its December 11 meeting.  It was requested that mandated code language be denoted in Board policies when undergoing amendment.  President Chapman, with the Board's approval, indicated that she will request that this item, as amended, be moved from New Business to the Consent Agenda under New Business during the December 11 meeting.  (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment A and to the December 11, 2003 minutes at Attachment U.)

VII. Policy 2510 - Assuring the Quality of Education:

Regulations for Education Programs

Pamela S. Cain, Assistant State Superintendent, Division of Instructional and Student Services, provided brief remarks and addressed questions regarding the proposed revision of Policy 2510, Assuring the Quality of Education:  Regulations for Education Programs.  President Chapman, with the Board's approval, indicated that she will request that this item be moved from New Business to the Consent Agenda under New Business during the December 11 meeting.  (Copy appended to Official Minutes of December 11, 2003 at Attachment V.) 

VIII. Break

President Chapman called for a break at 2:41 p.m.

IX. Call to Order

President Chapman called the meeting back to order at 2:59 p.m.

X. Discussion of West Virginia Board of Education Policies

Steven L. Paine, Deputy State Superintendent, and Ms. Tinder addressed the Board regarding non-essential policies and policies requiring revision in order to maximize efficiency of operations of the state school system.  As set forth in W.Va. Code 18-2-5, the Board is the policy making body for the West Virginia public school system and with the onset of the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, numerous Board policies have been revised in order to comply with provisions of the federal law.  Some of the required revisions have increased the demands placed on local board members, superintendents, central office staff, principals and teachers.  Ms. Tinder suggested the Board complete strategic planning and finalize the Board's goals before taking action with regard to its policies.  (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment B.) 

XI. Strategic Planning

Mr. Morris distributed and briefly discussed a draft strategic plan and introduced Dr. Paine and Melanie Purkey, Executive Director, Office of Student Services and Health Promotion, Division of Instructional and Student Services, who facilitated the remainder of the session. The Board reviewed the five goals as presented and amended goal four to add the words "and effectively."

Mrs. Fish moved, and Mrs. Hamilton seconded, that the Mission Statement, Vision Statement and Goals of the State Board be approved.  The motion was carried unanimously.  The Board's Strategic Planning Committee will develop objectives for the Board's approval; said objectives are to be presented at the February 2004 meeting of the Board.  (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment C.)

XII. Executive Session

Mrs. Fish moved, and Mrs. Haden seconded, that the Board go into executive session as provided in W.Va. Code 6-9A-3 (attorney-client privilege) and 6-9A-4(b)(2)(A) (personnel exception) to discuss attorney-client privileged information and personnel matters.  The Board entered into executive session at 3:50 p.m.

XIII. Return from Executive Session

The Board returned from executive session at 4:25 p.m. at which time President Chapman announced that no decisions had been made or action taken.

XIV. Future Meetings

The next regular meeting of the Board will be held December 11, 2003, at 8:30 a.m., in the Board Conference Room, Capitol Building 6, Room 353, 1900 Kanawha Boulevard, East, Charleston, West Virginia.

XV.      Adjournment

Upon motion by Mr. Spencer, seconded by Mrs. Hamilton, and unanimously carried, the Board adjourned at 4:26 p.m.

     Minutes approved by the Board on January 15, 2004.

                           ______________________________________________

     Sandra M. Chapman, President

     ______________________________________________

     Sheila M. Hamilton, Secretary

Minutes were recorded by

     Virginia M. Harris

Executive Secretary to

           the Board.

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