MINUTES

WEST VIRGINIA BOARD OF EDUCATION

Board Conference Room

Capitol Building 6, Room 353

1900 Kanawha Boulevard, East

Charleston, West Virginia

July 14, 2005

I.

President Barbara N. Fish called the meeting of the West Virginia Board of Education to order at 8:35 a.m. on July 13, 2005, in 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, Sandra M. Chapman, Delores W. Cook, Sheila M. Hamilton, Burma Hatfield, Ronald B. Spencer, and Jenny N. Phillips, and ex officios Steven L. Paine, State Superintendent of Schools, and J. Michael Mullen, Chancellor, the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission. Member absent was ex officio James L. Skidmore, Chancellor, the West Virginia Council for Community and Technical College Education.

II.

Ms. Claudia Jones, Travel Accountant, West Virginia Department of Education, recipient of the Governor's Service Award, was recognized. Also recognized were Mr. Tony Smedley, Executive Director, Office of Human Resources, Division of Administrative Services, and Ms. Phyllis Justice, Assistant Director, Office of Instructional Technology, Superintendent's Office, upon their retirement and Rebecca M. Tinder, Esq., General Counsel to the Board and the Department, who will be leaving on July 31, 2005.

III.

Upon motion by Mr. Spencer, seconded by Mrs. Hamilton, the Board unanimously approved the agenda with the following modification: President Fish moved item VIII.C. Grant Guidelines to the first order business following the approval of the Consent Agenda.

IV.

Upon motion by Ms. Phillips, seconded by Mrs. Cook, the Board unanimously approved items on the Consent Agenda as amended. (Copies appended to Official Minutes, Attachments A-J.)

Meeting minutes of May 24, May 31, June 8, June 9, June 13, June, 18, June 21and June 27, 2005 (Attachment A)

Budget supplement and transfer requests for the month of June 2005 as follows: total supplements = $85,550,660 and total transfers = $233,463,179 (Attachment B)

An alternative route to certification for special education (Attachment C)

The appointment of Barbara N. Fish (State Board Member), David M. Alfred (Middle School Teacher, District 1), Phyllis Newcomb (High School Teacher, District 3) and Bettina Messersmith (High School Career/Technical Teacher, District 2) and the reappoint of Robert A. Lockhart (Layperson), Jama Shamblin (Elementary Teacher, District 2), and Shirley Fortney (West Virginia Wesleyan College, Private College Faculty) to another three year term on the West Virginia Commission for Professional Teaching Standards effective July 1, 2005 (Attachment D)

• West Virginia Secondary School Activities Commission (WVSSAC) Series 2, Athletics, Provisions Governing Eligibility and Series 3, Provisions Governing Contests (Attachment E)

• Removed Policy 6200 - Handbook on Planning School Facilities from public comment and placed the newly revised version on public comment for 30 days (Attachment F)

Step 7 plans, as submitted by the 55 county boards of education for the 2005-06 year (Attachment G)

• Policy 2525 - West Virginia's Universal Access to Early Education System (Attachment H)

• The placement of affected sections of Policy 2510 - Assuring the Quality of Education: Regulations for Education Programs on public comment for 30 days (Attachment I)

• Policy 2320 - A Process for Improving Education - Performance Based Accreditation System (Attachment J).

V.

Mr. Mike McKown, Executive Director, Office of Internal Operations, Division of Administrative Services, addressed the Board regarding guidelines for the expenditure of state discretionary grant money. The Office of Internal Operations now requires all state grant recipients of grants over $10,000 to complete a brief narrative report verifying that the grant money was spent in compliance with the language of the grant. The report must be completed by the project official responsible for the grant distribution. (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment K.)

VI.

Dr. Kenna R. Seal, Director, Office of Education Performance Audits (OEPA), reported that an announced on-site review was conducted at Logan Middle School in Logan County on May 10, 2005. The OEPA conducted the review which was limited in scope to the standards relative to school and student performance and progress. The review also consisted of resource evaluation.

Upon recommendation of Dr. Seal and a motion by Mrs. Cook, seconded by Ms. Phillips, the Board unanimously continued the Conditional Accreditation status of Logan Middle School and the Full Approval status of the Logan County School System with the school and county given until the next accreditation cycle to correct the identified deficiencies. (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment L.)

VII.

Dr. Seal reported that announced on-site reviews were conducted at Princeton Primary School, Memorial Elementary School, Whitehorn Elementary School, Oakvale Elementary School, Princeton Middle School, and Bluefield High School in Mercer County May 10 - 12, 2005. The OEPA conducted the reviews which were limited in scope to the standards relative to school and student performance and progress. The reviews also consisted of resource evaluation.

Upon recommendation of Dr. Seal and a motion by Mrs. Hamilton, seconded by Ms. Hatfield, the Board unanimously continued the Full Accreditation status of Princeton Primary School, Memorial Elementary School, and Whitehorn Elementary School and the Full Approval status of the Mercer County School System with the schools and county given until the next accreditation cycle to correct any identified deficiencies.

Upon recommendation of Dr. Seal and a motion by Mr. Spencer, seconded by Ms. Chapman, the Board unanimously continued the Conditional Accreditation status of Oakvale Elementary School, Princeton Middle School, and Bluefield High School and the Full Approval status of the Mercer County School System with the schools and county given until the next accreditation cycle to correct any identified deficiencies. (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment M.)

VIII.

Dr. Seal reported that announced on-site reviews were conducted at Lubeck Elementary School and Parkersburg High School in Wood County on May 31, 2005. The OEPA conducted the

reviews which were limited in scope to the standards relative to school and student performance and progress. The reviews also consisted of resource evaluation.

Upon recommendation of Dr. Seal and a motion by Ms. Haden, seconded by Ms. Hatfield, the Board unanimously continued the Conditional Accreditation status of Lubeck Elementary and Parkersburg High School and the Full Approval status of the Wood County School System with the schools and county given until the next accreditation cycle to correct any identified deficiencies. (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment Mc.)

President Fish requested that Dr. Seal encourage schools with exemplary practicies to apply for state and national recognition.

IX.

President Fish called for a break at 10:07 a.m.

X.

President Fish called the meeting back to order at 10:22 a.m.

XI.

Communications Committee. Ms. Haden provided brief remarks and introduced Ms. Liza Cordeiro, Executive Director, Communications Office, Superintendent's Office, who reviewed the Board's communications strategy with regard to the strategic plan.

Wellness Committee. Mrs. Hamilton provided brief remarks and introduced Ms. Melanie Purkey (distributed information), Executive Director, Office of Student Services and Health Promotion, Division of Instructional and Student Services, and Mr. Rick Goff, Executive Director, Office of School Nutrition, Division of Administrative Services, who provided remarks regarding the implementation of House Bill 2816, West Virginia Healthy Start Initiative. (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment N and addendum.)

XII.

Ms. Kay Goodwin, Secretary, Department of Education and the Arts, was recognized and provided brief remarks.

XIII.

Board Member Reports. Mr. Spencer, Dr. Johnson, Mrs. Cook, Chancellor Mullen and President Fish provided reports.

XIV.

President Fish recognized Ms. Chapman, Ms. Deskins, Ms. Purkey and the Board's executive secretary for their work in facilitating the Superintendent Search.

XV.

President Fish recognized Ms. Karen K. Larry, Executive Assistant to the State Superintendent, who provided a report regarding the professional development facet of S. B. 603 that impacts student achievement. President Fish stated that Mrs. Cook, and possibly Ms. Phillips, will represent the Board on this legislative study group.

XVI.

President Fish recognized Ms. Lydia McCue, Executive Assistant to the State Superintendent, and all those involved in school improvement throughout the Department, with the Board's "Attitude Is Everything Award."

XVII.

State Superintendent's Report. Dr. Paine: 1) provided a brief report including Department personnel actions and status reports in Hampshire, McDowell and Lincoln Counties, and 2) introduced Attorney Tinder who provided updates regarding litigation in Fayette and Mingo Counties and, 3) introduced Mr. Bill Grizzell, Superintendent, Lincoln County Schools, who provided a report regarding the financial status of the Lincoln County school system. (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment O.)

XVIII.

President Fish called for a break for lunch at 11:55 a.m.

XIX.

President Fish called the meeting back to order at 12:45 p.m.

XX.

Ms. Larry presented thirteen (13) waiver requests for the Board's consideration.

Mrs. Cook moved, and Mrs. Hamilton seconded, that the waiver requests be approved. Discussion ensued during which it was directed that future instructional materials requests include more a detailed background regarding the instructional material for which a waiver is being requested. It was also directed that a communique regarding this decision be provided to all affected parties. Upon the call for the question the motion was unanimously carried. (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment P.)

XXI.

Dr. Paine presented the Board's personnel items for consideration.

Upon motion by Dr. Johnson, seconded by Ms. Phillips, the Board approved the personnel items as presented with eight members voting yes and one member, Ms. Chapman, voting no. (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment Q.)

XXII.

President Fish, with the assistance of Dr. Paine, provided an overview of the Board's accomplishments for 2004-2005. Ms. Chapman, on behalf of the Board, expressed appreciation to President Fish for her service during her tenure as president.

XXIII.

President Fish expressed appreciation to the Board and the Department for support during her tenure as President and called for nominations from the floor.

Mr. Spencer nominated Mrs. Fish to the office of President. Ms. Hatfield nominated Dr. Johnson to the office of President. Ms. Chapman moved, and Mrs. Hamilton seconded, that the nominations be closed. The motion carried.

The vote was Dr. Johnson - 5 votes and Mrs. Fish - 4 votes. Dr. Johnson was declared elected President.

Ms. Hatfield nominated Mrs. Cook to the office of Vice President. Ms. Chapman moved, and Mrs. Hamilton seconded, that the nominations be closed. The motion carried.

Mrs. Cook was not opposed for that office and was declared elected Vice President.

Ms. Phillips nominated Ms. Haden to the office of Secretary.

Ms. Chapman moved, and Mrs. Hamilton seconded, that the nominations be closed. The motion carried.

Ms. Haden was not opposed for that office and was declared elected Secretary.

XXIV.

The next regular meeting of the Board will be held August 10-11, 2005 in Charleston, West Virginia.

XXV.

Upon motion by Mr. Spencer, seconded by Mrs. Hamilton and unanimously carried, the meeting adjourned at 2:00 p.m.

Minutes approved by the Board on August 11, 2005.

_________________________________________

Lowell E. Johnson, President

_________________________________________

Priscilla M. Haden, Secretary

Minutes were recorded by

Virginia M. Harris

Executive Secretary to

the Board.

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