WV State Board Minutes 3-14-07

MINUTES

WEST VIRGINIA BOARD OF EDUCATION

Board Conference Room

Capitol Building 6, Room 353

1900 Kanawha Boulevard, East

Charleston, West Virginia

March 14, 2007

I. Call to Order

President Johnson called the meeting of the West Virginia Board of Education (WVBE) to order at 12:32 p.m. on March 14, 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, Gayle C. Manchin, 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. Delegation/Recognition

Mr. Edward Toman, Superintendent of Gilmer County Schools, recognized the West Virginia Department of Education’s Office of School Facilities.

III. Oath of Office

Superintendent Paine administered the oath of office to Mrs. Manchin.

IV. Approval of Agenda

Upon motion by Mrs. Cook, seconded by Ms. Haden, the Board unanimously approved the agenda.

V. Final Education Performance Audit Report for the

Hampshire County School System, Hampshire County

Dr. Kenna R. Seal, Director, Office of Education Performance Audits (OEPA), reported that an unannounced on-site review of the Hampshire County School District January 18-21, 2005. The Board reviewed the OEPA report at its February 9, 2005 meeting and declared that extraordinary circumstances existed and issued the county Nonapproval status. According to W.Va. Code §18-2E-5 the State Board appointed an Improvement Consultant Team (ICT) to make recommendations for correcting the emergency and gave the county six (6) months to correct the deficiencies in the OEPA report. The OEPA returned to Hampshire County December 5-9, 2005, as directed by the WVBE, to conduct a full county audit and review the county’s progress in responding to the Improvement Consultant Team’s recommendations. Based on the OEPA’s report, the West Virginia Board of Education continued the Nonapproval status of Hampshire County Schools and intervened in the operation of the school system to cause improvements to be made. The State Board further declared the position of county superintendent to be vacant and the Board also limited the authority of the Hampshire County Board of Education in the areas of personnel and finance until such time that all deficiencies are resolved and the system is providing a thorough and efficient educational program. A Follow-up Education Performance Audit Team returned to the Hampshire County School System January 22-26, 2007 to determine if the school district had resolved the personnel and financial issues and the deficiencies in the OEPA report had been corrected.

Upon the recommendation of Dr. Seal and a motion by Mr. Spencer, seconded by Mr. Dunlevy, the Board unanimously issued the Hampshire County School System Conditional Approval status, Augusta Elementary, John J. Cronwell Elementary, Romney Elementary, Slanesville Elementary, Springfield-Green Spring Elementary, Capon Bridge Elementary and Capon Bridge Middle School Full Accreditation status, Romney Middle School Conditional Accreditation status, and Hampshire Senior High School Temporary Accreditation status, and began the process to return control of the school system to the Hampshire County Board of Education. (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment A.)

VI. Draft Individual School Education Performance Audit Reports

for Crooked Creek School and Man Senior High School, Logan County

Dr. Seal reported that announced on-site reviews were conducted at Crooked Creek School and Man Senior High School in Logan County on January 29, 2007. 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.

Following discussion, it was decided that action regarding Crooked Creek School would be delayed until further research could be conducted regarding the school’s status in compliance with the decision in Harris v. Marockie.

Upon the recommendation of Dr. Seal and a motion by Ms. Haden, seconded by Ms. Phillips, the Board unanimously issued Man Senior High School Full Accreditation status, continued the Full Approval status of the Logan County School System, and gave the school and county until the next accreditation cycle to correct any deficiencies reported. (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment B.)

VII. Draft Individual School Education Performance Audit Reports

for Point Pleasant Intermediate School, Hannan High School, and

Point Pleasant High School, Mason County

Dr. Seal reported that announced on-site reviews were conducted at Point Pleasant Intermediate School, Hannan High School, and Point Pleasant High School in Mason County January 23-24, 2007. The Office of Education Performance Audits 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 the recommendation of Dr. Seal and a motion by Mrs. Cook, seconded by Ms. Phillips, the Board unanimously issued Point Pleasant Intermediate School and Point Pleasant High School Conditional Accreditation status, Hannan High School Full Accreditation status, continued the Full Approval status of the Mason County School System and gave the schools and county until the next accreditation cycle to correct any deficiencies reported and that the State Superintendent meet with the Superintendent of Mason County Schools to offer technical assistance. Mrs. Fish requested, and the Board approved, that the Date Certain for Point Pleasant Intermediate School and Point Pleasant High School to achieve AYP be amended to reflect a May 31, 2008. (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment C.)

VIII. Break

President Johnson called for a break at 1:55 p.m.

IX. Call to Order

President Johnson called the meeting back to order at 2:10 p.m.

X. Recommendations of Consultant Improvement Team

for the Fayette County School System

Dr. Jack McClanahan, Deputy State Superintendent of Schools, presented the recommendations of the Consultant Improvement Team for the Fayette County School System. The OEPA conducted an unannounced review of the Fayette County School System during November 2006. The purpose of the review was to examine Fayette County’s progress in meeting the standards required by W. Va. Code and WVBE policy. On January 10, 2007, the WVBE unanimously declared that extraordinary circumstances exist in Fayette County Schools. Superintendent Paine was directed to appoint an Improvement Consultant Team to make recommendations within 60 days for correcting the emergency. Upon the Board’s approval of the recommendations, the Fayette County School System has six (6) months in which to correct the deficiencies and implement the recommendations from the Improvement Consultant Team.

Upon motion by Mr. Dunlevy, seconded by Ms. Phillips, the Board unanimously approved the recommendations of the Improvement Consultant Team for the Fayette County School System. (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment D.)

XI. Report on School Climate and Implementation of

Policy 4373 Student Code of Conduct

Ms. Melanie Purkey, Executive Director, and Mr. Don Chapman, Assistant Director, West Virginia Department of Education (WVDE) Office of Healthy Schools, presented a report on school climate and implementation of Policy 4373, Student Code of Conduct. This report provided current data collection systems for student behavior related to Policy 4373. A statewide analysis of Student Code of Conduct data was distributed, along with OEPA observational data and data gathered from selective school systems, to provide a status report of school climate and its current impact on student achievement in West Virginia Schools. An overview of WVDE technical assistance efforts and recommendations for improvement in the area of school climate was also provided. (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment E and addendum.)

XII. Office of Institutional Education Programs Policy on

Critical Need and Shortages of Substitute Teachers (2006-2007 School Year)

Mr. Matt Kittle, Superintendent, WVDE Office of Institutional Education Programs (OIEP), presented the OIEP’s policy on critical need and shortages of substitute teachers (2006‑2007 school year) for the Board’s consideration. Portions of W. Va. Code §18A-2-3 were renewed until June 30, 2010, regarding the use of retired teachers as substitutes. Due to the code change, the OIEP had to amend its policy, as found in the OIEP Employee Handbook, on critical need and shortages of substitute teachers.

Upon motion by Ms. Haden, seconded by Ms. Phillips, the Board unanimously approved OIEP Policy on Critical Need and Shortages of Substitute Teachers (2006-2007 School Year). (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment F.)

XIII. Break

President Johnson called for a break at 3:40 p.m.

XIV. Call to Order

President Johnson called the meeting back to order at 3:45 p.m.

XV. Employment of Substitute Teachers in Areas of Critical Need

Ms. Heather Deskins, General Counsel to the WVBE and WVDE, presented Kanawha County Schools’ request, per House Bill 2105 (amending W. Va. Code §18A-2-3), for approval of a policy for the employment of substitute teachers in areas of critical need.

Upon motion by Mrs. Manchin, seconded by Ms. Hatfield, the Board unanimously approved the policy. (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment G.).

XVI. Policy 2510, Section 5.5.1. Middle Level Education Programs of Study,

Chart 4 (Footnote 4, Foreign Language)

Dr. Amelia Courts, Executive Director, WVDE Office of International Schools and ESL, presented Policy 2510, Assuring the Quality of Education: Regulations for Education Programs, Section 5.5.1. Middle Level Education Programs of Study, Chart 4 (footnote 4, foreign language) for the Board’s consideration. Following discussion regarding the waiver language added at footnote four, the WVDE was directed to provide guidelines to all counties regarding the waiver process. (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment H and to Official Minutes of February 15, 2007 at Attachment G.)

XVII. Policy 2520.4, 21st Century Social Studies