MINUTES

WEST VIRGINIA BOARD OF EDUCATION

Lincoln County Schools

Yeager Career Center, Room 107

10 Marland Avenue

Hamlin, West Virginia

April 12, 2006

I.

President Lowell E. Johnson called the meeting of the West Virginia Board of Education (WVBE) order at 12:30 p.m. on April 12, 2006, in Room 107, Yeager Career Center, 10 Marland Avenue, Hamlin, West Virginia.

The following members were present: President Johnson, Vice President Delores W. Cook, Secretary Priscilla M. Haden, Barbara N. Fish, Robert W. Dunlevy, Burma Hatfield, and Ronald B. Spencer, and ex officio Steven L. Paine, State Superintendent of Schools. Members absent were Sheila M. Hamilton, Jenny N. Phillips, and ex officos James L. Skidmore, Chancellor, the West Virginia Council for Community and Technical College Education, and Bruce C. Flack, Interim Chancellor, the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission.

II.

Mr. William K. "Bill" Grizzell, Superintendent, Lincoln County Schools, welcomed the Board and introduced Lincoln County board members and staff.

III.

Dr. Deborah S. Akers, Superintendent, Mercer County Schools and Chairperson, RESA I Regional Council, addressed the Board and presented a letter regarding the Report to West Virginia Board of Education, An Investigation of Financial Policies, Procedures and Practices of RESA I; Ms. Carol Smith, Lincoln County citizen and President, Lincoln County Board of Education, and Ms. Billie Frye, member, Lincoln County Board of Education (assisted by Ms. Phyllis Kirk and Mr. David Lucas, teachers, Harts High School, who distributed information and provided a PowerPoint presentation regarding Harts High School), addressed the Board. (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment A.)

IV.

Upon motion by Mr. Dunlevy, seconded by Mrs. Cook, the Board unanimously approved the agenda.

V.

Dr. Kenna R. Seal, Director, Office of Education Performance Audits (OEPA), reported that announced on-site reviews were conducted at Nutter Fort Primary School, Nutter Fort Intermediate School, Bridgeport Middle School, Gore Middle School, Lumberport Middle School and Washington Irving Middle School in Harrison County February 28 - March 1, 2006. 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 Mr. Spencer, seconded by Ms. Haden, the Board unanimously continued Harrison County's Full Approval status and issued Nutter Fort Primary School Full Accreditation status, and Nutter Fort Intermediate School, Bridgeport Middle School, Gore Middle School, Lumberport Middle School and Washington Irving Middle School Conditional Accreditation status, and gave the schools and county until the next accreditation cycle to correct any noted deficiencies and a Date Certain as listed in the individual school reports to achieve Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP). (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment B.)

VI.

Dr. Seal announced on-site reviews were conducted at Jefferson Elementary Center, Edison Junior High School, and Hamilton Junior High School in Wood County March 13 and 14, 2006. 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. Fish, seconded by Mr. Dunlevy, the Board unanimously continued Wood County's Full Approval status and issued Jefferson Elementary Center, Edison Junior High School, and Hamilton Junior High School Conditional Accreditation status and gave the schools and county until the next accreditation cycle to correct any noted deficiencies and a Date Certain as listed in the individual school reports to achieve Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP). (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment C.)

VII.

Dr. Seal presented Policy 2320 for the Board's consideration. Policy 2320 is being revised to reflect the No Child Left Behind State Accountability Plan changes, inclusion of review of institutional schools, and revisions to the exemplary schools definition.

Upon recommendation of Dr. Seal and a motion by Ms. Hatfield, seconded by Ms. Haden, the Board unanimously placed the affected portions of Policy 2320 on public comment for 30 days. (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment D.)

VIII.

President Johnson called for a break at 2:01 p.m.

IX.

President Johnson called the meeting back to order at 2:17 p.m.

X.

Dr. Jorea Marple, Assistant State Superintendent, and Ms. Brenda Williams, Executive Director, Office of Technology Instruction, Division of Curriculum and Instructional Services, introduced Dr. Dale Mann, Managing Director, Interactive, Inc., who distributed and discussed a document entitled, Evaluating West Virginia's EETT Technology Model Schools Project. This report revealed the preliminary results of a three-year study on the integration of technology into the curriculum for improved student achievement. West Virginia received two of ten national educational technology evaluation grants from the U. S. Department of Education. (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment E.)

XI.

Mr. Frank D. Andrews, Superintendent, Office of Institutional Education Programs, Division of Student Support Services, presented Policy 2325 for the Board's consideration. (Copy appended to Official Minutes of April 13, 2006 at Attachment H.)

XII.

Dr. Lynn Boyer, Executive Director, Office of Special Education, Division of Curriculum and Instructional Services, presented Policy 2520.16 for the Board's consideration. (Copy appended to Official Minutes of April 13, 2006 at Attachment I.)

XIII.

Dr. Stanley Hopkins, Assistant State Superintendent, Division of Technical and Adult Education Services, distributed a guidance document and presented Policy 4110 for the Board's consideration. (Copy appended to Official Minutes of April 13, 2006 at Attachment J and addendum.)

XIV.

Dr. Boyer presented the application to receive the federal fiscal year 2006 grant award under IDEA for the Board's consideration. (Copy appended to Official Minutes of April 13, 2006 at Attachment K.)

XV.

Dr. Marple and Dr. Jan Barth, Executive Director, Office of Student Assessment Services, Division of Curriculum and Instructional Services, presented West Virginia: Closing the Achievement Gap Report. This publication is the first state report that defines the performance of public school students by subgroups for the following indicators: state and national assessments, advanced placement enrollment, advanced placement performance, attendance rate, graduation rate, college going rate, retention rate and career and technical education placement data. Additionally, this report outlines the West Virginia Department of Education initiatives that promote student achievement and bringing all students to mastery and beyond. (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment F.)

XVI.

Dr. Barth presented an update regarding NAEP performance in reading and mathematics for

fourth and eighth grades in West Virginia and the nation. This update provided an explanation of the difference between NAEP and WESTEST content and performance by achievement levels. (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment G.)

XVII.

Dr. Barth distributed and presented the APTA cut scores and performance descriptors by subject and grade level report for the Board's consideration. The cut scores, upon Board approval, will be submitted to the United States Department of Education for final peer review on April 30, 2006. (Copy appended to Official Minutes of April 13, 2006 at Attachment L.)

XVIII.

President Johnson called for a break at 3:27 p.m.

XIX.

President Johnson called the meeting back to order at 3:33 p.m.

XX.

As the presiding officer, President Johnson informed the members that he had identified a matter that needed to be discussed in Executive Session involving attorney-client privilege, citing W. Va. Code §6-9A-3, and personnel, citing W. Va. Code §6-9A-4(b)(2)(A).

Upon motion by Ms. Hatfield, seconded by Mr. Dunlevy and unanimously carried, the Board entered into Executive Session at 3:34 p.m.

XXI.

The Board returned from Executive Session at 3:52 p.m. at which time President Johnson announced that no action was taken and no decisions were made.

XXII.

The next regular meeting of the Board will be held April 13, 2006 in Lincoln County, West Virginia. Upon adjournment the Board will conduct a site visit of Lincoln County High School followed by a public forum for citizen comments at the Yeager Career Center at 7:00 p.m.

XXIII.

Upon motion by Ms. Haden, seconded by Mrs. Cook and unanimously carried, the meeting adjourned at 3:56 p.m.

Minutes approved by the Board on May 11, 2006.

___________________________________________

Delores W. Cook, Vice President

___________________________________________

Priscilla M. Haden, Secretary

Minutes were recorded by

Virginia M. Harris

Executive Secretary to

the Board.

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