MINUTES WEST VIRGINIA BOARD OF EDUCATION

Board Conference Room

Capitol Building 6, Room 353

1900 Kanawha Boulevard, East

Charleston, West Virginia

February 11, 2004

I.   Call to Order

President Sandra M. Chapman called the regular meeting of the West Virginia Board of Education to order at 8:32 a.m. on February 11, 2004, 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, Burma Hatfield, Lowell E. Johnson, Ronald B. Spencer and ex officio David Stewart, State Superintendent of Schools.  Members absent were Paul J. Morris and ex officio J. Michael Mullen, Chancellor, the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission.

II. Approval of Agenda

Upon motion by Mrs. Fish, seconded by Mrs. Hamilton, the Board unanimously approved the agenda with the following modifications and with all items placed to immediately follow the Consent Agenda:   Ms. Haden requested item B.3. Amendment and School Closure - McDowell County Comprehensive Education Facilities Plan be removed from the Consent Agenda, Dr. Johnson requested item B.7. Personnel be removed from the Consent Agenda, Mrs. Fish requested item C.6. Policy 3233 - Establishment and Operation of Regional Education Service Agencies be removed from the Consent Agenda, and Mrs. Cook requested item VIII.B. Agreement Between the Board of Education of Logan County and the Board of Education of Lincoln County be moved to the Consent Agenda. 

III. School District Approval Status and School Accreditation

Status Based on Follow-up Education Performance Audit

of the Lincoln County School System

Kenna R. Seal, Director, Office of Education Performance Audits, reported that an on-site review of the Lincoln County School System was conducted  September 27 - October 1, 1999.  A Follow-up Education Performance Audit Team returned to Lincoln County Schools November 5 - 7, 2003 to review the elementary schools and assess the degree of progress in correcting the findings of noncompliance identified during the original on-site review.  Discussion ensued regarding the findings.

IV. Executive Session

Mrs. Fish moved that the Board go into executive session, as provided in W.Va. Code 6-9A-4(b)(2)(A), to discuss a personnel matter involving Atenville Elementary School in Lincoln County.  Mr. Spencer seconded the motion and it was carried unanimously.

The Board entered into executive session at 8:52 a.m.

V. Return from Executive Session

The Board returned from Executive Session at 9:16 a.m. at which time President Chapman announced that no action was taken and no decisions were made.

VI. School District Approval Status and School Accreditation

Status Based on Follow-up Education Performance Audit

of the Lincoln County School System (Continued)

Upon recommendation of Dr. Seal and a motion by Mrs. Fish, seconded by Mr. Spencer, the Board unanimously continued the Nonapproval status previously issued for the Lincoln County School System, issued the schools the accreditation status listed in the report and assigned Atenville Elementary School Seriously Impaired status.  (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment A.)

VII. Draft Individual School Education Performance Audit Report

for Barboursville Middle School, Cabell County

An announced on-site review was conducted at Barboursville Middle School in Cabell County on December 4, 2003.  The Office of Education Performance Audits conducted the review which was limited in scope to the performance, process, and progress standards relative to school and student achievement.  The review also consisted of resource evaluation.

Upon recommendation of Dr. Seal and a motion by Ms. Haden, seconded by Dr. Johnson, the Board unanimously granted Barboursville Middle School the accreditation status listed in the individual school report and gave the school six months to correct the Education Performance Audit findings of noncompliance listed in the report.  (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment B.)

 

VIII. Draft Individual School Education Performance Audit Report

for East Lynn Elementary School, Wayne County

An announced on-site review was conducted at East Lynn Elementary School in Wayne County on December 5, 2003.  The Office of Education Performance Audits conducted the review which was limited in scope to the performance, process, and progress standards relative to school and student achievement.  The review also consisted of resource evaluation.

Upon recommendation of Dr. Seal and a motion by Dr. Johnson, seconded by Mrs. Cook, the Board unanimously granted East Lynn Elementary School the accreditation status listed in the individual school report and gave the school six months to correct the Education Performance Audit findings of noncompliance listed in the report.  (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment C.)

IX. Draft Individual School Education Performance Audit Report

for Brookview Elementary School, Boone County

An announced on-site review was conducted at Brookview Elementary School in Boone County on January 13, 2004.  The Office of Education Performance Audits conducted the review which was limited in scope to the performance, process, and progress standards relative to school and student achievement.  The review also consisted of resource evaluation.

Upon recommendation of Dr. Seal and a motion by Mrs. Cook, seconded by Ms. Haden, the Board unanimously granted Brookview Elementary School the accreditation status listed in the individual school report and gave the school six months to correct the Education Performance Audit findings of noncompliance listed in the report.  (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment D.)

X. Draft Individual School Education Performance Audit Report

for Man Central K-8 School, Logan County

Dr. Seal reported that an announced on-site review was conducted at Man Central K-8 School in Logan County on January 14, 2004.  The Office of Education Performance Audits conducted the review which was limited in scope to the performance, process, and progress standards relative to school and student achievement.  The review also consisted of resource evaluation.

Upon recommendation of Dr. Seal and a motion by Mrs. Hamilton, seconded by Mr. Spencer, the Board unanimously granted Man Central K-8 School the accreditation status listed in the individual school report and gave the school six months to correct the Education Performance Audit findings of noncompliance listed in the report.  (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment E.)

XI. Revised Unified School Improvement Plans

Dr. Seal reported that county boards are required to ensure that any school performing below the requirements for full accreditation status revise its Unified School Improvement Plan to increase the performance of the school to a full accreditation status level. The revised plan must include objectives, a time line, an evaluation component, cost estimates, and a date certain for achieving full accreditation.  The attachment summarizes the elements of the revised Unified School Improvement Plans for 34 plans.

  

    Upon recommendation of Dr. Seal and a motion by Dr. Johnson, seconded by Mrs. Hamilton, the Board unanimously approved the plans as listed in the attached chart.  (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment F.)

XII. Break

President Chapman called for a break at 9:31 a.m.

XIII. Call to Order

President Chapman called the meeting back to order at 9:46 a.m.

XIV. Reports

State Board Member Reports.  Mrs. Fish provided a report regarding her participation in a National Association of State Boards of Education (NASBE) study group entitled "Closing the Achievement Gap."  Mr. Spencer distributed a report and discussed his participation in a NASBE study group entitled "High School Athletics in the Era of Reform." Dr. Johnson reported that he attended a legislative hearing regarding the No Child Left Behind Act.  President Chapman provided brief remarks regarding the resignation of Dr. Stewart and indicated that there may be a need for a special meeting prior the next regularly scheduled meeting. (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment G.)

RESA Committee Report.  Mrs. Fish provided a report on behalf of the RESA Committee.

Strategic Planning Committee Report.  Ms. Haden distributed information and provided an update on behalf of the Strategic Planning Committee.  The secretary was directed to send the chart, along with a self-addressed stamped return envelope, to all members requesting input by February 20. (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment H.)

Legislative Committee Report.  Mr. Spencer asked Steven L. Paine, Deputy State Superintendent of Schools, to provide a report on behalf of the Legislative Committee.  Dr. Paine provided information regarding selected bills.  A bill regarding the salary and the current code requirements/qualifications for the position of State Superintendent of Schools was also discussed.  

Public Relations Committee Report.  Mrs. Fish asked Liza Cordeiro, Executive Director, Communications Office, to provide an update regarding the Recipe for Success initiative and the  Milken recognition ceremony scheduled for March 10.

Wellness Committee Report.  Mrs. Hamilton provided a report on behalf of the Wellness Committee and indicated she would provide members a written report for their review and requested that input regarding the report be directed to her attention.

Transportation Committee Report.  Mrs. Cook provided a report on behalf of the Transportation Committee. 

NASBE Report - The Complete Curriculum:  Ensuring a Place for the Arts and Foreign Languages in America's Schools.  Julia Lee and Deborah Harki, Coordinators, Division of Instructional and Student Services, addressed the Board regarding arts and foreign language programs in West Virginia schools.  (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment I.)

  

XV. Consent Agenda

Upon motion by Mr. Spencer, seconded by Mrs. Cook, the Board unanimously approved/received the consent agenda as previously amended.  (Copies appended to Official Minutes, Attachments J-S.)  The following items were approved/received:

       

minutes of January 14 and 15, 2004.  (Attachment J and addendum.)

budget supplement and transfer requests for the month of January 2004 as follows:  total supplements = $20,357,202 and total transfers = $15,964,633.  (Attachment K.)

closure of Bramwell Elementary School in Mercer County at the end of the 2003-2004 school year with students transferred to either Bluewell or Montcalm Elementary Schools.

projects found in the attachment for funding from the School Building Authority of West Virginia 3% statewide project funds.   (Attachment L.)

2004 Summer Food Service Program State Plan.  (Attachment M.)

waiver request of Monica Beane, Principal, Normantown Elementary School in Gilmer County, for Part One of the December 2003 Principals Leadership Academy for one year.

issued  Montcalm High School in Mercer County the accreditation status listed in the attachment.  (Attachment Mc.)  

the annual report on the instructional materials depository from The James & Law Company.  (Attachment N.)

Policy 4336 - West Virginia School Transportation for placement on public comment for thirty days.  (Attachment O.)

Policy 2520.15 - West Virginia Early Learning Standards Framework to be effective June 1, 2004.  (Attachment P.)

  

Policy 2444.4 - Issuance of the State of West Virginia High School Equivalency Diploma based upon Passage of the General Education Development (GED) Tests.  (Attachment Q.) 

National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) Protocol.  (Attachment R.)   

Notice, Request, and Instructions to Vendors of Instructional Materials, 2004 Call for K-12 for mathematics instructional materials.

Agreement, as amended, between the Board of Education of Logan County and the Board of Education of Lincoln County.  (Attachment S and addendum.)

XVI. Amendment and School Closure - McDowell County

Comprehensive Educational Facilities Plan (CEFP) 

Jack McClanahan, Assistant State Superintendent, Division of Administrative Services, addressed the Board regarding the proposed closure of Switchback Elementary School and the transfer of students to Kimball Elementary School, and the reconfiguration of Anawalt Elementary and Gary Elementary Schools from Pre-k-8 schools to Pre-k-6 schools and the transfer of students in grades 7 and 8 to Mount View Middle School at the end of the 2003-2004 school year.

Following discussion and upon motion by Mrs. Fish, seconded by Mrs. Hamilton, the Board unanimously approved the closure and reconfigurations.

XVII. Personnel

Following a discussion of the code provisions for the hiring of personnel for both the Department and the Board, Dr. Johnson moved that the Board continue to approve those personnel items for which it is responsible, as required by law or policy, and that Department personnel, hired by the State Superintendent as provided  in W.Va. Code 18-3-9, be presented to the Board as a report.  Ms. Haden seconded the motion.  

Following discussion Dr. Johnson amended, and Ms. Haden accepted an amendment to the motion whereby Board members are in no way prevented from providing input and recommendations to the State Superintendent regarding the hiring of Department personnel.

Upon the call for the question, the motion passed with six (6) members, Vice-President Fish, Mrs. Cook, Ms. Haden, Ms. Hatfield, Dr. Johnson and Mr. Spencer voting yes, and two (2) members, President Chapman and Secretary Hamilton voting no.

Upon motion by Dr. Johnson, seconded by Mrs. Cook, the Board approved the personnel items for RESA VII, RESA VIII and the Schools for the Deaf and the Blind and any other items for which they have a statutory duty, and accepted the report of personnel hired by the State Superintendent.  (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment T.)

XVIII. Policy 3233 - Establishment and Operation of

Regional Education Service Agencies

Mrs. Fish distributed a revised copy of Policy 3233 for the Board's consideration.

Upon motion by Mrs. Fish, seconded by Dr. Johnson, the Board unanimously approved Policy 3233 as revised.  (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment U and addendum.)

XIX. Policy 2510 - Assuring the Quality of Education:  Regulations for

Education Programs and Required Electives

Dr. Stewart removed Policy 2510 from the agenda due to pending legislative action.

XX. Resolution - McDowell County Nonstructural Flood Control   

Project Relocation of Eligible School Facilities

Rebecca Tinder, General Counsel to the Board and the Department, presented a resolution entitled, McDowell County Nonstructural Flood Control Project Relation of Eligible School Facilities, for the Board's consideration.  H.B. 4111 amended W.Va. Code 18-2E-5 specifically permitting the State Board of Education to delegate the authority to conduct real estate transactions in counties where the State Board has intervened.  The resolution is necessary to continue work on the nonstructural flood control project relocation of eligible schools in McDowell County.

Upon motion by Dr. Johnson, seconded by Mrs. Cook, the Board unanimously approved and adopted the resolution.  (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment V.)

XXI. Future Meetings

 

The next regular meeting of the Board will be held March 10-11, 2004, in the Board Conference Room, Capitol Building 6, Room 353, 1900 Kanawha Boulevard, East, Charleston, West Virginia.

XXII.      Adjournment

Upon motion by Mrs. Hamilton, seconded by Mrs. Cook, and unanimously carried, the Board adjourned at 11:34 a.m.

     Minutes approved by the Board on March 11, 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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