WV State Board Minutes 1-10-07

MINUTES

WEST VIRGINIA BOARD OF EDUCATION

Board Conference Room

Capitol Building 6, Room 353

1900 Kanawha Boulevard, East

Charleston, West Virginia

January 10, 2007

I. Call to Order

President Lowell E. Johnson called the meeting of the West Virginia Board of Education (WVBE) to order at 12:37 p.m. on January 10, 2007, in the Board Conference Room, Capitol Building 6, Room 353, 1900 Kanawha Boulevard, East, Charleston, 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, Jenny N. Phillips and Ronald B. Spencer, and ex officio Steven L. Paine, State Superintendent of Schools. Members absent were 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. Approval of Agenda

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

III. Draft Education Performance Audit Reports for the

Fayette County School System

Dr. Kenna R. Seal, Director, Office of Education Performance Audits, reported that an announced Education Performance Audit was conducted in the Fayette County Central Office, Collins Middle School, Oak Hill High School, and Valley High School November 14 - 16, 2006. The Office of Education Performance Audits 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.

It was the recommendation of the OEPA that the WVBE declare that extraordinary circumstances exist in the Fayette County School System and that the county be issued Nonapproval status. It was further recommended that a state of emergency be declared in the Fayette County School System and that an improvement consultant team be appointed to make recommendations within 60 days for correcting the emergency. Upon WVBE approval of the recommendations from the improvement consultant team, the county would be given six months to make progress in correcting the deficiencies. If progress does not occur within six months, as verified by a follow-up audit, the WVBE may intervene in the operation of the county school system.

Following discussion and upon motion by Mr. Dunlevy, seconded by Ms. Phillips, the Board unanimously declared that extraordinary circumstances exist in the Fayette County School System; issued the Fayette County School System Nonapproval status; declared that a state of emergency exists in the Fayette County School System; and, approved the appointment of an Improvement Consultant Team.

Upon recommendation of Dr. Seal and a motion by Mr. Spencer, seconded by Mrs. Cook, the Board unanimously issued Collins Middle School Conditional Accreditation status, Oak Hill High School and Valley High School Full Accreditation status, and gave the schools and county until the next accreditation cycle to correct deficiencies noted in the report. The Board, by consensus, requested that Superintendent Paine contact the Superintendent of Fayette County Schools to direct that, in compliance with state law and policy, the practice of requiring students to purchase school supplies be discontinued immediately. (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment A.)

IV. Draft Individual School Education Performance Audit Reports

for Paw Paw Elementary School and Paw Paw High School, Morgan County

Dr. Seal reported that announced on-site reviews were conducted at Paw Paw Elementary School and Paw Paw High School in Morgan County on November 28, 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 motion by Mrs. Fish, seconded Ms. Phillips, the Board unanimously issued Paw Paw Elementary School Full Accreditation status, Paw Paw High School Exemplary Accreditation status, continued the Full Approval status of the Morgan County School System and gave the schools and county until the next accreditation cycle to correct any deficiencies reported. (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment B.)

V. Break

President Johnson called for a break at 1:45 p.m.

VI. Call to Order

President Johnson called the meeting back to order at 2:02 p.m.

VII. Policy 2445.41, “Textbooks” Adoption: Notice, Request, and

Instructions to Publishers

Dr. Jorea Marple, Assistant State Superintendent, and Mr. Dan Blackwood, Coordinator, Office of Instruction, Division of Curriculum and Instructional Services, presented Policy 2445.41 for the Board’s consideration. (Copy appended to Official Minutes of January 11, 2007 at Attachment G.)

VIII. Policy 2520.4, 21st Century Social Studies

Content Standards and Objectives for West Virginia Schools

Dr. Marple and Ms. Carla Williamson, Executive Director, Office of Instruction, Division of Curriculum and Instructional Services, presented Policy 2520.4 for the Board’s consideration. (Copy appended to Official Minutes of December 14, 2006 at Attachment H.)

IX. Policy 2520.16, Alternate Academic Achievement Standards

for West Virginia Schools

Dr. Marple and Dr. Lynn Boyer, Executive Director, Office of Special Programs, Extended and Early Learning, Division of Curriculum and Instructional Services, presented Policy 2520.16 for the Board’s consideration. (Copy appended to Official Minutes of December 14, 2006 at Attachment J.)

X. Policy 2520.5, 21st Century Health 5-12 Content Standards