MINUTES

WEST VIRGINIA BOARD OF EDUCATION

Pleasants County Schools

St. Marys High School

1002 Second Street

St. Marys, West Virginia

October 14, 2004

I.

President Barbara N. Fish called the regular meeting of the West Virginia Board of Education to order at 8:30 a.m. on October 14, 2004, in the library at St. Marys High School, 1002 Second Street, St. Marys, West Virginia.

The following members were present: President Fish, Vice President Lowell E. Johnson, Secretary Priscilla M. Haden, Sandra M. Chapman, Delores W. Cook, Burma Hatfield, Paul J. Morris, Ronald B. Spencer and ex officio David Stewart, State Superintendent of Schools. Members absent were Sheila M. Hamilton, J. Michael Mullen, Chancellor, West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission, and James L. Skidmore, Chancellor, West Virginia Council for Community and Technical Education.

II.

Mr. Tom Long, Superintendent of Pleasants County Schools, and Mr. Chuck Heinlein, Principal of St. Marys High School, welcomed the Board to Pleasants County.

III.

President Fish recognized Mr. Jason Hughes of Pleasants County, West Virginia's 2005 Teacher of the Year, Ms. Patricia Mays of Pleasants County, West Virginia's 2004 School Nurse of the Year, Mr. Russell Rhodes of Pleasants County, Q-Straint's 2004 West Virginia Special Needs Bus Driver of the Year, and Mr. Anthony Lauer of Pleasants County, Prudential Spirit of Community Award's West Virginia Top High School Volunteer of the Year for 2004.

IV.

Upon motion by Dr. Johnson, seconded by Mrs. Cook, the Board unanimously approved the agenda with the following modification: Ms. Haden moved from item VII. Consent Agenda, items B.2. West Virginia Department of Education Personnel and B.3. West Virginia Board of Education Personnel to immediately follow the approval of the Consent Agenda.

V.

Dr. Kenna R. Seal, Director, Office of Education Performance Audits (OEPA), provided a brief update regarding OEPA activities and distributed information regarding performance measures and standards removed from Policy 2320 - A Process for Improving Education: Performance Based Accreditation System. President Fish appointed the following individuals to a committee to study the performance measures and standards removed from Policy 2320: Ms. Haden, chair, Ms. Chapman and Dr. Seal. Findings of the committee are to be provided at the December meeting. (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment A.)

VI.

Board Member Reports. Dr. Johnson, Ms. Haden, Mrs. Cook and President Fish provided reports.

Ms. Liza Cordeiro, Executive Director, Communications Office, Office of the State Superintendent, at the request of Ms. Haden, addressed the Board and provided an update regarding communication committee activities including a review of the various listserves, West Virginia Achieves tour, and the annual report.

West Virginia Achieves. Dr. Stewart distributed and provided a progress report regarding West Virginia Achieves and indicated that another progress report will be provided in November. In addition, Dr. Stewart announced the establishment of a task force to study high school reform in West Virginia public schools to be chaired by Dr. Stan Hopkins, Assistant State Superintendent, Division of Technical and Adult Education. (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment C.)

VII.

President Fish called for a break at 9:55 a.m.

VIII.

President Fish called the meeting back to order at 10:15 a.m.

IX.

Review of Home Schooling Law. Ms. Karen K. Larry, Executive Assistant to the State Superintendent, provided a review of home schooling law. (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment D.)

Status of Literacy and Adult Basic Education (ABE). Mr. Bill Wilcox, Executive Director, Office of Adult Education and Workforce Development, Division of Technical and Adult Education, provided a report which included literacy levels according to the national adult literacy survey; facts concerning the number of individuals served and education attainment achieved through the ABE program in West Virginia; information on the General Education Development (GED) testing program; ABE's collaboration with other agencies and organizations including community and technical colleges; and the Verizon grant for free GEDs. (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment E.)

X.

Upon motion by Mr. Morris, seconded by Mr. Spencer, the Board unanimously approved the Consent Agenda as amended. (Copies appended to Official Minutes, Attachments F- Mc.)

minutes of September 8 and 9, 2004 (Attachment F)

budget supplement and transfer requests for the month of September 2004 as follows: total supplements = $79,300,474 and total transfers = $30,374,453 (Attachment G)

three (3) new requests for waivers of instructional materials and one (1) request to waive State Board Policy (Attachment H)

• employment of Substitute Teachers in Areas of Critical Need policies for Nicholas, Morgan and Wetzel County Schools (Attachment I)

Continuing Program Approval Status for the 19 institutions whose educational personnel preparation programs are contained in the attached document (Attachment J)

• Policy 4321.1: Standards for School Nutrition, as amended (Attachment K)

• Full Approval status to the Kanawha County school system and the accreditation status listed in the report for four schools (Attachment L)

Ms. Haden requested clarification regarding two positions listed in the Superintendent's report and a personnel item listed for action by the Board.

Following discussion and upon motion by Mr. Morris, seconded by Ms. Chapman, the Board unanimously approved the Board's personnel items. (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment N and addendum.)

XII.

President Fish called for a break for lunch at 11:22 a.m.

XIII.

President Fish called the meeting back to order at 12 noon.

XIV.

Upon motion by Ms. Haden, seconded by Ms. Hatfield, the Board unanimously entered into executive session at 12:06 p.m., under the provisions of W.Va. Code §6-9A-3, to discuss attorney-client privileged information.

XV.

The Board returned from Executive Session at 2:00 p.m. at which time President Fish announced that no decisions were made or action taken. President Fish then entertained a motion that the Board meet on December 3, 2004 to discuss the Mingo County Comprehensive Educational Facilities Plan (CEFP). Ms. Hatfield moved that the Board meet on December 3 to discuss the Mingo County CEFP. Mrs. Cook seconded the motion and it was unanimously carried.

XVI.

President Fish provided an overview regarding proposed changes to the NASBE guiding organizational principles, public policy positions and bylaws. Following a brief discussion, it was the consensus of the Board that President Fish be given discretion to act on behalf of the Board at the NASBE General Business meeting on October 23, 2004.

XVII.

Mr. Mike McKown, Executive Director, Office of Internal Operations, Division of Administrative Services, distributed an updated appropriation summary and provided a review of the proposed budget and improvement package for fiscal year 2006. (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment O and addendum.)

XVIII.

Dr. Steven L. Paine, Deputy State Superintendent, provided an overview of the recommendations of the Assessment Committee and addressed procedural issues regarding the submission of the report to the Legislative Oversight Commission on Education Accountability (LOCEA).

Dr. Johnson moved that the Board accept the Assessment Committee recommendations, as presented, with the understanding that additional recommendations may be incorporated at a future date. Ms. Chapman seconded the motion and it was unanimously carried. (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment P.)

XIX.

President Fish provided an overview of the proposed legislative agenda for fiscal year 2005.

Ms. Haden moved, and Ms. Hatfield seconded, that the Board endorse the Superintendent's budget and improvement package as the Board's legislative agenda. Upon the call for the question, the motion was carried with six members voting yes and two members voting no. (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment Q.)

XX.

The next regular meeting of the Board will be held November 9-10, 2004 in Raleigh County, West Virginia.

XXI.

Upon motion by Dr. Johnson, seconded by Ms. Chapman and unanimously carried, the Board adjourned at 3:27 p.m.

Minutes approved by the Board on November 10, 2004.

______________________________________________

Barbara N. Fish, President

______________________________________________

Priscilla M. Haden, Secretary

Minutes were recorded by

Virginia M. Harris

Executive Secretary to

the Board.

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