MINUTES

WEST VIRGINIA BOARD OF EDUCATION

Board Conference Room

Capitol Building 6, Room 353

1900 Kanawha Boulevard, East

Charleston, West Virginia

January 12, 2005

I.

President Barbara N. Fish called the regular meeting of the West Virginia Board of Education to order at 8:35 a.m. on January 12, 2005, in the Board Conference Room, Capitol Building 6, Room 353, 1900 Kanawha Boulevard, East, Charleston, West Virginia.

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

II.

The following representatives of Citizens for Equal Education addressed the Board and distributed information regarding the proposed closure of Gauley Bridge Middle-High School: Phillip O'Dell, Byron Winebrenner, Jimmy McIntyre, Lou Pinion Jones, and Maureen Layton Clemons. (Copies appended to Official Minutes, Attachment A.)

III.

President Fish called for a break at 9:07 a.m.

IV.

President Fish called the meeting back to order at 9:20 a.m.

V.

President Fish requested the following amendments to the agenda: move item VII.B.12. Fayette County Comprehensive Educational Facilities Plan (CEFP) Closures and place it following the Approval of the Agenda, move item VII.B.10. Amendment - Berkeley County Comprehensive Educational Facilities Plan to the February agenda, move VII.B.6. Approval of Substantive Changes to an Existing Program at One Institution of Higher Education to the first item of New Business, and move item VIII.A. Notice, Request and Instructions to Vendors of Instructional Materials to the February agenda.

Following discussion Dr. Johnson moved, and Ms. Hatfield seconded, that the removal of item VIII.A. from the January agenda be a separate vote and the agenda, as previously amended, be approved. The motion carried unanimously.

President Fish thereupon called a separate vote for each amendment:

• move item VII.B.12. Fayette County Comprehensive Educational Facilities Plan (CEFP) Closures and place it following the Approval of the Agenda.

The amendment was accepted unanimously.

2) move item VII.B.10. Amendment - Berkeley County Comprehensive Educational Facilities Plan to the February agenda.

The amendment was accepted unanimously.

3) move item VII.B.6. Approval of Substantive Changes to an Existing Program at One Institution of Higher Education to the first item of New Business.

The amendment was accepted unanimously.

4) move item VIII.A. Notice, Request and Instructions to Vendors of Instructional Materials to the February agenda.

After discussion, the amendment was defeated with one member, President Fish, voting yes, and seven members voting no.

VI.

Dr. Jack McClanahan, Assistant State Superintendent, Division of Administrative Services, and Fayette County Schools Superintendent Helen Whitehair addressed the Board regarding the proposed closures. Mr. Spencer moved, and Mr. Morris seconded, approval of the Fayette County CEFP. After discussion, the motion carried unanimously. (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment B.)

VII.

Dr. Kenna R. Seal, Director, Office of Education Performance Audits (OEPA), reported that an announced on-site review was conducted at Braxton County Middle School in Braxton County on November 16, 2004. The OEPA conducted the review which was limited in scope to the performance and process 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 continued Temporary Accreditation status for Braxton County Middle School and the Full Approval status of the Braxton County School System and gave the school and county until September 1, 2005, to correct the high-quality standards necessary for improvement. (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment C.)

VIII.

Dr. Seal reported that an announced on-site review was conducted at Robert L. Bland Middle School in Lewis County on November 17, 2004. The OEPA conducted the review which was limited in scope to the performance and process standards relative to school and student achievement. The review also consisted of resource evaluation.

Upon recommendation of Dr. Seal and a motion by Mr. Morris, seconded by Mrs. Cook , the Board unanimously continued Temporary Accreditation status for Robert L. Bland Middle School and the Full Approval status of the Lewis County School System and gave the school and county until September 1, 2005, to correct the high-quality standards necessary for improvement. (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment D.)

IX.

Dr. Seal reported that an announced on-site review was conducted at Clay Middle School in Clay County on November 18, 2004. The OEPA conducted the review which was limited in scope to the performance and process standards relative to school and student achievement. The review also consisted of resource evaluation.

Upon recommendation of Dr. Seal and a motion by Mr. Spencer, seconded by Ms. Hatfield, the Board unanimously continued Temporary Accreditation status for Clay Middle School the Full Approval status of the Clay County School System and gave the school and county until September 1, 2005, to correct the high-quality standards necessary for improvement. (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment E.)

X.

Dr. Seal reported that an announced on-site review was conducted at Peterstown Middle School in Monroe County on December 1, 2004. The OEPA conducted the review which was limited in scope to the performance and process standards relative to school and student achievement. The review also consisted of resource evaluation.

Upon recommendation of Dr. Seal and a motion by Mr. Morris, seconded by Ms. Chapman, the Board unanimously continued Temporary Accreditation status for Peterstown Middle School and the Full Approval status of the Monroe County School System and gave the school and county until September 1, 2005, to correct the high-quality standards necessary for improvement. (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment F.)

XI.

Dr. Seal reported that an announced on-site review was conducted at George Washington Middle School in Putnam County on December 7, 2004. The OEPA conducted the review which was limited in scope to the performance and process 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 Ms. Hatfield, the Board unanimously continued Temporary Accreditation status for George Washington Middle School and the Full Approval status of the Putnam County School System and gave the school and county until September 1, 2005, to correct the high-quality standards necessary for improvement. (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment G.)

XII.

Dr. Seal reported that an announced on-site review was conducted at Atenville Elementary School in Lincoln County on December 8, 2004. The OEPA conducted the review which was limited in scope to the performance and process 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 Mr. Spencer, the Board unanimously upgraded Atenville Elementary School from Seriously Impaired to Conditional Accreditation status and continued the Nonapproval status of the Lincoln County School District. (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment H.)

XIII.

President Fish called for a break at 10:15 a.m.

XIV.

President Fish called the meeting back to order at 10:36 a.m.

XV.

President Fish requested that the reports be reordered and thereupon moved item VI.F. Go to College to be the first item of business under Reports, without objection.

Go to College. Chancellor Mullen, Mr. Robert Morganstern, Director of Legislative Relations, External Communications and Outreach for the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission, and Ms. Amie Fazalare, Director, Fairmont State GEAR UP Partnership, distributed information and provided a report regarding the "Education. Go Get It" campaign. (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment I.)

Board Member Reports. Dr. Johnson (distributed information), Mr. Spencer (distributed information), and Ms. Haden provided reports. (Copies appended to Official Minutes, Attachment J.)

Superintendent's Report. Superintendent Stewart and Dr. Steven L. Paine, Deputy State Superintendent, provided a report regarding the Quality Counts 2005 (attached) and Fordham Foundation reports. Department personnel actions (attached) were provided for the Board's information. Ms. Chapman noted her continuing concern that the Board no longer approves Department of Education personnel items. (Copies appended to Official Minutes, Attachment K.)

Mingo County Update. Superintendent Stewart, Ms. Rebecca M. Tinder, General Counsel to the Department and the Board, and Dr. Seal provided an update regarding the status of financial and general operational matters, School Building Authority of West Virginia funding, the current OEPA audit to be concluded on Friday, January 14, and the activities conducted and scheduled since the last meeting of the State Board.

RESA Committee Report. President Fish provided a report on behalf of the RESA Committee which met on January 11. Mrs. Cook and Mr. Spencer also provided brief remarks.

School Recognition Programs Update. Dr. Seal provided an update regarding the development of a process for school recognition programs.

XVI.

Dr. Johnson moved, and Mrs. Cook seconded, approval of the Consent Agenda as previously amended. Ms. Chapman noted that she failed to remove the personnel item at the time the agenda, in its entirety, was approved. Thereupon Dr. Johnson and Mrs. Cook agreed to amend their original motion to remove item VII.B.2. West Virginia Board of Education Personnel from the Consent Agenda for consideration as the second item of business under New Business. The motion, as amended, carried unanimously.

Minutes of December 15 and 16, 2004 (Attachment L)

Budget supplement and transfer requests for the month of December 2004 as follows: total supplements = $24,450,996 and total transfers = $22,722,545 (Attachment M)

Two (2) new requests for waivers of instructional material; one (1) request for continuation of a wavier of instructional material; one (1) new request for a waiver of State Board policy; and (d) two (2) requests for continuation of waivers of State Board policy (Attachment Mc)

Three (3) principal and four (4) assistant principal waiver requests for the 2004-2005 Principal Leadership Academy for New Principals for one year (Attachment N)

Nicholas County Schools' policy for the employment of substitute teachers in areas of critical need (Attachment O)

• Amendment to the Logan County Comprehensive Educational Facilities Plan (CEFP) to include the addition of four classrooms at Man Central K-8 School

• Amendment to the Lincoln County CEFP to include canceling the relocation of the fifth grade students at Midway instead of the scheduled move to Duval K-8 and canceling the relocation of the fifth grade students at Ranger and West Hamlin Elementary instead of moving them to Guyan Valley Middle

President Fish called for a break at 12:11 p.m.

XVIII.

President Fish called the meeting back to order at 1:00 p.m.

XIX.

Dr. Karen Huffman, Executive Director, Office of Professional Preparation, Division of Administrative Services, addressed the Board regarding changes to Salem International University's Educational Leadership program with an effective date of January 13, 2005, as approved by the Program Review Board on December 8, 2004.

Upon recommendation of the Program Review Board and a motion by Dr. Johnson, seconded by Mr. Spencer, the Board unanimously approved the changes to Salem International University's Educational Leadership Program, effective January 13, 2005.

XX.

Upon motion by Dr. Johnson, seconded by Ms. Haden, the Board approved the West Virginia Board of Education personnel items with seven members voting yes, and one member, Ms. Chapman, voting no. (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment S.)

XXI.

Dr. Stanley Hopkins, Assistant State Superintendent, Division of Technical and Adult Education presented the 2005 Notice, Request and Instructions for Vendors of Instructional Materials. W.Va. Code §18-2A-2 requires a written request (Call) be issued to vendors for bids, samples, and prices of textbooks, instructional materials and learning technologies. The 2005 Call is limited to the required materials and programs in the areas of Health and Science, K-12. Approval of the Call will initiate the sequence of activities that must be completed to provide the Official State Multiple List of Instructional Materials to counties by December, 2005.

Upon motion by Ms. Haden, seconded by Dr. Johnson, the Board approved the 2005 Call with seven members voting yes and one member, President Fish, voting no. (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment T.)

XXII.

Dr. Huffman presented two nominees to the WVCPTS for the Board's consideration. One vacancy on the WVCPTS requires State Board appointment of a layperson as defined by WVBE Policy 5050, and the second vacancy requires appointment of a middle school teacher who resides in Congressional District 3.

Upon motion by Mrs. Cook, seconded by Ms. Hatfield, the Board unanimously appointed Mark E. Wills to the layperson position and Pamela H. Moore, middle school teacher, to the Congressional District 3 position.

XXIII.

The next regular meeting of the Board will be held February 8-9, 2005 in Mason County, West Virginia.

XXIV.

President Fish adjourned the meeting at 1:40 p.m.

Minutes approved by the Board on February 9, 2005.

______________________________________________

Barbara N. Fish, President

______________________________________________

Priscilla M. Haden, Secretary

Minutes were recorded by

Virginia M. Harris

Executive Secretary to

the Board.

wvbeminutes1/12/05:26a