MINUTES

WEST VIRGINIA BOARD OF EDUCATION

Board Room

Preston County Schools

300 Preston Drive

Kingwood, West Virginia

April 12, 2007

I.  Call to Order

  President Johnson called the meeting of the West Virginia Board of Education (WVBE) to order at 9:00 a.m. on April 11, 2007, in the Board Room, Preston County Schools, 300 Preston Drive, Kingwood, West Virginia.

  The following members were present:  President Johnson, Vice President Delores W. Cook, Secretary Priscilla M. Haden, Barbara N. Fish, Robert W. Dunlevy, Gayle C. Manchin, Jenny N. Phillips and Ronald B. Spencer, and ex officio Steven L. Paine, State Superintendent of Schools.  Members absent were Burma Hatfield 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

  Mr. John Lofink, Superintendent of Preston County Schools, welcomed the Board.

III. Recognition

The Board recognized Ms. Beverly Kingery, West Virginia Department of Education (WVDE) Office of Special Programs, Extended and Early Learning. Through the work of Ms. Kingery and WVDE staff, West Virginia was awarded the International Reading Association’s Five Star Policy Reading Award.  West Virginia is the only state in the country to receive this award for five consecutive years.

IV. Delegations

  Ms. Susan Collins, Preston County parent, Mr. Larry Salyers (distributed information), resident of Hardy County, and Ms. Jana Freeman, Preston County Challenge West Virginia, addressed the Board.  (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment P.)

V. Approval of Agenda

  Upon motion by Ms. Phillips, seconded by Mrs. Manchin, the Board unanimously approved the agenda with the following modifications:  President Johnson removed from the Consent Agenda item 13. Policy 3233, Establishment and Operation of Regional Education Service Agencies, and Mrs. Fish removed Consent Agenda item 14. West Virginia Association of Retired School Employees (WVARSE) Recommendation for Appointment to West Virginia Secondary School Activities Commission (WVSSAC) Review Board and Consent Agenda item 15. Appointments to the West Virginia Commission for Professional Teaching Standards (WVCPTS) with the items to be taken up immediately following the approval of the Consent Agenda. 

VI. Consent Agenda

  Upon motion by Mr. Spencer, seconded by Mr. Dunlevy, the Board unanimously approved the Consent Agenda as previously amended.  (Copies appended to Official Minutes, Attachments A through G and J through L including the addendum at Attachment E.)

· Meeting minutes of February 28 and March 14 and 15, 2007  (Attachment A)

· Budget supplement and transfer requests for the month of March 2007 as follows:  total supplements = $23,162,787 and total transfers = $19,943,099 (Attachment B)

· Amendment to the Jefferson County Comprehensive Educational Facilities Plan (CEFP) to include naming the new high school Washington High School, which is currently under construction and the current Jefferson High School Ninth Grade Complex will become a middle school when Washington High School opens

· Amendment to the Mercer County CEFP to include replacement of the natural grass surface of Hunnicutt Field, the athletic field adjacent to Princeton High School, with artificial turf.  The project will require removal of existing sod and topsoil; placement of liner, stone, and drainage beds; installation of carpet; and infusion of sand and rubber pellets and will require approximately three months for completion

· Amendment to the Mineral County CEFP to include the location of a portable at Keyser Primary/Middle School to house a fifth grade classroom.  The portable will meet Federal requirements and State Board of Education, Policy 6200.  The portable will be located as close as feasible to the doors of the receiving facility in order to maintain a secure campus

· Amendment to the Monongalia County CEFP to include a grade configuration change for Daybrook Elementary from PreK-3 to PreK-2

· Amendment to the Roane County CEFP to address the Reedy Elementary grade configuration.  This action will commence with the opening of the 2007-08 academic year and will revert the sixth grade to Reedy Elementary from Spencer Elementary 

· Amendment to the Wood County CEFP to provide links/walkways between the main building, music facilities, auxiliary gym and field house in order to significantly enhance the safety and health of the Parkersburg High School students; the links/walkways will be totally enclosed

· School facility reviews for Brookview Elementary, Sherman Elementary and Van Junior High School Gymnasium Addition in Boone County;  Clay Elementary, Clay Middle School and Clay County High School in Clay County;  East Hardy Early/Middle School, East Hardy High School and Moorefield Middle School in Hardy County; Berkeley Springs High School, Warm Springs Intermediate School and Warm Springs Middle School in Morgan County; Green Bank Elementary/Middle School and Pocahontas County High School in Pocahontas County; Roane County High School, Spencer Elementary and Walton Elementary/Middle School in Roane County; Summers County Middle School and Summers County High School in Summers County; and, Anna Jarvis Elementary School, Grafton High School and West Taylor Elementary in Taylor County  (Attachment C)

· Two (2) waiver requests of WVBE policy  (Attachment D)

· Eighteen county applications representing summer school at 35 county locations  (Attachment E and addendum)

· Employment of Substitute Teachers in Areas of Critical Need policies for Boone, Cabell, Fayette, McDowell, Mingo, Morgan, Ohio, Putnam, Summers, Webster and Wyoming County Schools  (Attachment F)

· Policy 2419, Regulations for the Education of Students with Exceptionalities  (Attachment G)

· 2006 James & Law Annual Report  (Attachment J)

· Upgrade of Cherry River Elementary School and Richwood Middle School to Full Accreditation status and continued the Full Approval status of the Nicholas County School System  (Attachment K)

· Report on Glenwood School, Mercer County  (Attachment L).

VII.  Policy 3233, Establishment and Operation of

Regional Education Service Agencies

  Ms. Betty Jo Jordan, Executive Director, WVDE Office of Technical and Secondary Program Improvement, presented Policy 3233 for the Board’s consideration.  Ms. Heather Deskins, General Counsel to the Board and the Department and Ms. Kelli Talbott, Assistant Attorney General, Office of the Attorney General, answered questions regarding Policy 3233.  Following discussion it was directed that a guidance document/Superintendent’s interpretation be prepared that will accompany the policy to provide guidance regarding employment status. 

Upon motion by Mr. Dunlevy, seconded by Ms. Haden, the Board approved Policy 3233 with six members voting yes and two members, Mrs. Fish and Mr. Spencer voting no.  (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment H.)

VIII. Break

  President Johnson called for a break at 10:35 a.m.

IX.  Call to Order

  President Johnson called the meeting back to order at 10:45 a.m.

X.  West Virginia Association of Retired School Employees (WVARSE)

  Recommendation for Appointment to West Virginia Secondary School

Activities Commission (WVSSAC) Review Board

  At the request of Mrs. Fish this item was removed from the agenda and will be placed on the May agenda with additional information regarding the nomination to be provided to members prior to the May meeting.

XI.  Appointments to the West Virginia Commission for

  Professional Teaching Standards (WVCPTS)

  Upon motion by Mrs. Fish, seconded by Mr. Dunlevy, the Board unanimously appointed Ms. Suzanne Anderson, elementary teacher from Wood County, and Ms. Mary Humphreys, high school teacher from Greenbrier County, to the WVCPTS.  (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment I.)

XII. Reports

  Board Member/Committee Reports.  President Johnson provided a report regarding his attendance at the National Association of State Boards of Education (NASBE) legislative conference and materials received during the conference that have been copied and provided to members.  Mrs. Cook provided a report regarding her participation as a member of the NASBE study group on Models of Success:  Policies and Strategies for Reconstitution and Schools in Need of Improvement.  Ms. Haden provided a report regarding her participation as a member of the NASBE nomination committee.  Mrs. Manchin asked about applying for a grant from NASBE to support the continuation of the student representative to the Board initiative.  Mrs. Manchin also distributed and presented information regarding a draft concept paper entitled West Virginia Healthy Start (working title).  Mrs. Fish reminded the Board of the soon to be released Institute of Medicine of the National Academies’ report regarding nutrition standards for foods in schools.  (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment Q.)

  Meeting with U. S. Secretary of Education.  Mrs. Manchin provided information regarding a meeting she had with U. S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings and also regarding her attendance at a Southern Regional Education Board meeting.

  Teacher Working Conditions Survey Update.  President Johnson, assisted by Dr. Karen Larry, Executive Assistant to the State Superintendent, provided a brief update regarding the teacher working conditions survey initiative.  President Johnson requested that members provide recommendations for membership on the stakeholder group to Dr. Larry.  (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment M.)

  Evaluation Committee, Approval of Performance Evaluation Process and Forms for State Superintendent of Schools, Office of Education Performance Audits Director, West Virginia Schools for the Deaf and the Blind Superintendent and WVBE Executive Secretary.  Ms. Phillips distributed and presented the 2007 appraisal instruments and process for the Board’s approval. 

Upon motion by Ms. Haden, seconded by Mrs. Manchin, the Board unanimously approved the appraisal process and instruments.  (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment R.)

  State Superintendent’s Report.  Superintendent Paine presented Department personnel actions for the Board’s information and Ms. Talbott provided information regarding the provisions in statute regarding salary increases and the constitutional authority of the State Superintendent and the Board.  Superintendent Paine provided updates regarding Hampshire, McDowell, Lincoln and Mingo Counties.  Ms. Carla Williamson (distributed information), Executive Director, WVDE Office of Instruction, and Dr. Jan Barth, Executive Director, WVDE Office of Assessment and Accountability, provided an informational update regarding the impact that will be experienced as a result of the most recent revisions to the content standards, and objectives. 

XIII. Break

  President Johnson called for a break at 12:10 p.m.

XIV. Call to Order

  President Johnson called the meeting back to order at 12:15 p.m.

XV.  Reports (Continued)

  Superintendent’s Report (Continued).  Dr. Cathy Jones (distributed information), Coordinator, WVDE Office of Special Programs, Extended and Early Learning, provided a status report regarding the West Virginia PreK initiative.  Mr. Terry Harless (distributed information), Executive Director, WVDE Office of Internal Operations, and Mr. Joe Panetta, Executive Director, WVDE Office of School Finance, provided an overview of the FY‑08 budget.  (Copies appended to Official Minutes, Attachment Mc and addenda.)

  Mr. Andrew J. Warne, student representative to the Board for the Month of April and student at Robert C. Byrd High School in Harrison County, addressed the Board regarding his meeting experience, provided his thoughts as to the current status of education initiatives and shared his vision for a classroom of the future.

XVI.   WVBE Personnel Matters Including West Virginia Schools

for the Deaf and the Blind Superintendent Search

  President Johnson provided an update regarding the West Virginia Schools for the Deaf and the Blind Superintendent search process and distributed a listing of individuals recommended to serve on the screening and interview committees with Ms. Haden serving as chair of both committees.

  Upon motion by Mrs. Manchin, seconded by Mr. Dunlevy, the Board unanimously approved the Board’s personnel matters, and approved, with flexibility, the individuals recommended to serve on the screening and interview committees for the West Virginia Schools for the Deaf and the Blind Superintendent search with Ms. Haden serving as chair of both committees, and that three candidates, in rank order, be provided at the conclusion of the interviews with an offer of employment be extended in the same rank order.  (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment N and addendum.)   

XVII. Board Items for Future Consideration

  President Johnson requested items to be considered for placement on the May agenda be provided to him or Dr. Jack McClanahan, Deputy Superintendent of Schools, as soon as possible.  (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment O.)

XVIII.  Future Meetings

  The next regular meeting of the Board will be held May 9-10, 2007 in Greenbrier County, West Virginia.

XIX. Adjournment

  Upon motion by Mrs. Cook, seconded by Ms. Phillips and unanimously carried, the Board adjourned at 1:39 p.m.

    Minutes approved by the Board on May 10, 2007.

    _______________________________________________

  Lowell E. Johnson, President

_______________________________________________

  Priscilla M. Haden, Secretary

Minutes were recorded by

Virginia M. Harris

Executive Secretary to the Board.

   wvbeminutes4/12/07