MINUTES

WEST VIRGINIA BOARD OF EDUCATION

Mount View Middle/High School Media Center

950 Mount View Road

Welch, West Virginia

October 5, 2006


I. Call to Order


President Lowell E. Johnson called the meeting of the West Virginia Board of Education (WVBE) to order at 9:00 a.m. on October 5, 2006, in the Media Center at Mount View Middle/High School, 950 Mount View Road, Welch, West Virginia.


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


II. Welcome


Dr. Mark A. Manchin, Superintendent of McDowell County Schools, welcomed the Board.


III. Approval of Agenda


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


IV. Consent Agenda


Upon motion by Mrs. Fish, seconded by Mrs. Cook, the Board unanimously approved the Consent Agenda. (Copies appended to Official Minutes, Attachments A-I.)


! Meeting minutes of September 13 and 14, 2006 (Attachment A)


! Budget supplement and transfer requests for the month of September 2006 as follows: total supplements = $27,975,627 and total transfers = $14,089,820 (Attachment B)


! Amendment to the Greenbrier County Comprehensive Educational Facilities Plan (CEFP) to include the following changes in facility classifications and recommendations: 1) Crichton Elementary, Rainelle Elementary, Rupert Elementary and Smoot Elementary changed from “Transitional” to “Functional” classification with recommendation that these four facilities be replaced with two new school facilities constructed to serve: a) the combined enrollments of Smoot Elementary and Rupert Elementary; and b) the combined enrollments of Crichton Elementary and Rainelle Elementary; 2) improvements/replacements slated for White Sulphur Springs Elementary School in the 2000 CEFP have been completed and the school has changed from “Transitional” to “Permanent” classification; 3) Williamsburg Elementary School has changed from “Permanent” classification to “Functional”, with recommendation that the school be closed due to extremely low enrollment, excessive costs for heating, staffing and maintenance; 4) Lewisburg Elementary continues to be classified as “Permanent” with recommendation that the facility be replaced with a new elementary school on an appropriate site; 5) Eastern Greenbrier Middle School was recommended for facility improvements which were not identified in the 2000 CEFP; and 6) Ronceverte Elementary has been replaced as recommended in the 2000 CEFP. Additional improvements to the school have been recommended.


● One request for a new waiver of WVBE policy, one request for a new waiver of instructional materials, and one request for continuation of a waiver of instructional materials (Attachment C)


! Notifications, per Senate Bill 227, W. Va. Code §18A-4-7a, Transfer of Teachers After Five Days Prior to Starting Instruction, from Mason, Ritchie and Wood County Schools (Attachment D)


● West Virginia University’s Autism program (K-6 and 5-Adult) at the graduate level, effective October 6, 2006 (Attachment E)


● The Quality of Teacher Preparation in West Virginia (Attachment F)

● Proposed Official State Multiple List of Instructional Materials for English Language Arts K-12 (Reading/Literature) (Attachment G)


● The accreditation status as listed in the individual school report for Hurricane Middle School and continuance of the Full Approval status of the Putnam County School System (Attachment H)


● The accreditation status as listed in the individual school report for Clay Middle School and continuance of the Full Approval status of the Clay County School System (Attachment I).


V. Reports

North Carolina Teacher Working Conditions Survey. President Johnson, assisted by Dr. Karen Larry, Executive Assistant to the State Superintendent, Superintendent’s Office, and Dr. Jane Hange, Coordinator, Office of Student Assessment Services, Division of Curriculum and Instructional Services, provided information regarding options for conducting a survey of educator perceptions of working conditions in West Virginia’s public K-12 schools and comparing summarized findings to the attainment of Adequate Yearly Progress by school and districts. It was the consensus of the Board that further study and research be conducted with a more refined report provided to the Board at a future meeting. (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment J.)


Board Member/Committee Reports. President Johnson attended a number of events including a meeting with Ms. Bernajean Porter, National Governor’s Association, and a National Academies forum in Washington, D.C. followed by visits to the offices of Senator Robert C. Byrd, Senator John D. Rockefeller, Congresswoman Shelley Moore Capito, Congressman Alan Mollohan and Congressman Nick “Joe” Rahall. Mrs. Fish provided a report on behalf of the Wellness Committee and read a letter from the Holocaust Commission regarding the provision of textbooks at the middle school level. Following discussion, Superintendent Paine indicated that the Department will follow-up with the Holocaust Commission regarding the textbook matter.


VI. Break


President Johnson called for a break at 10:20 a.m.


VII. Call to Order


President Johnson called the meeting back to order at 10:35 a.m.


VIII. Reports (Continued)


State Superintendent’s Report. Superintendent Paine presented Department personnel actions for the Board’s information and introduced Ms. Cynthia Kolsun, Superintendent, Hampshire County Schools, and Mr. Bernie Hott, President of the Hampshire County Board of Education, who provided a progress report regarding the current status of the Hampshire County school system. Following discussion, Ms. Kolsun and Mr. Hott were commended and Superintendent Paine suggested that, barring any unforeseen circumstances, return of control to the local Board could occur within the next six months. Superintendent Paine introduced Mr. Skip Hackworth, Superintendent of Mineral County Schools, who presented a public relations document prepared by Mineral County Schools. Superintendent Paine distributed a handout regarding the State Educational Technology Directors Association National Leadership Institute and provided a brief update regarding the 21st century skills initiative. (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment K and addenda).


West Virginia Schools for the Deaf and the Blind Annual Report 2005 - 2006. Mrs. Jane McBride, Superintendent of the West Virginia Schools for the Deaf and the Blind, distributed and presented the 2006 annual report for the Board’s information. (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment L.)

Early Identification and Outreach Programs for Hearing Impaired Students in West Virginia. Mr. Doug Godfrey, Parent Advisor, Sky-High Program, West Virginia Schools for the Deaf and the Blind, distributed and presented information regarding early identification and outreach programs for hearing impaired students in West Virginia. (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment M.)


IX. Update on Enhancement of Security

West Virginia Schools for the Deaf and the Blind

Mrs. McBride provided information regarding security at the West Virginia Schools for the Deaf and the Blind. Future postings of campus security positions will contain additional training, skill and experience requirements.


X. Point of Order - Superintendent’s Report (Personnel)


Mrs. Fish and Mr. Spencer requested clarification regarding the role, function and contracted time for psychologists in correctional facilities. The Department is to provide additional information at the November meeting.

XI. WVBE Response to the 2006 Annual Report of the

West Virginia Advisory Council for the

Education of Exceptional Children (WVACEEC)


Mrs. Fish, Mrs. Hamilton and Dr. Lynn Boyer, Executive Director, Office of Special Education Achievement, Division of Curriculum and Instructional Services, presented the Board’s response to recommendations found in the 2006 Annual Report of the WVACEEC that was presented to the WVBE on June 8, 2006

Upon motion by Mrs. Fish, seconded by Mrs. Cook, the Board unanimously approved the Board’s response to the Annual Report of the WVACEEC with two editorial corrections: on page two under State Board of Education’s Response change “fall 2006” to “November 2006” and on page 6 under State of Board of Education’s Response, “Board of Education” be changed to “State Board of Education.” (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment Mc.)


XII. West Virginia Board of Education Personnel


Dr. Jack McClanahan, Deputy State Superintendent of Schools, provided clarification regarding the Department personnel matter dealing with the hiring of psychologists and presented the Board’s personnel items for the Board’s consideration. The Department will provide a more detailed report regarding the hiring of psychologists at the November meeting.


Upon motion by Ms. Hatfield, seconded by Ms. Hamilton, the Board unanimously approved the Board’s personnel items. (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment N.)


XIII. Board Items for Future Consideration


President Johnson reviewed items anticipated to be placed on the November and December agendas and requested items to be considered for placement on a future agenda to be provided to Dr. McClanahan or the Board’s executive secretary. (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment O.)


XIV. Future Meetings

The next meeting of the Board will take place on November 1, 2006 in Charleston, West Virginia.


The next regular meeting of the Board will be held November 8-9, 2006 in Charleston, West Virginia.


XV. Personal Privilege - Sheila M. Hamilton


Mrs. Hamilton addressed the Board regarding her tenure as a member of the Board and requested that Dr. Larry read a letter of reflection that she had composed to the Board, Department and Superintendent Paine. (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment P.)


XVI. Adjournment


Upon motion by Ms. Haden, seconded by Mrs. Hamilton and unanimously carried, the meeting adjourned at 11:55 a.m.


Minutes approved by the Board on November 9, 2006.




Lowell E. Johnson, President




Priscilla M. Haden, Secretary

Minutes were recorded by

Virginia M. Harris

Executive Secretary to

the Board.

wvbeminutes10/5/06