MINUTES

WEST VIRGINIA BOARD OF EDUCATION

 

MINUTES

WEST VIRGINIA BOARD OF EDUCATION

Greenbrier County Schools

Eastern Greenbrier Middle School

Media Center

Route 1, Box 150

Ronceverte, West Virginia

May 10, 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 May 10, 2007, in the Media Center at Eastern Greenbrier Middle School, Route 1, Box 150, Ronceverte, West Virginia.

 

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

 

II.  Welcome

 

  Mr. John D. Curry, Superintendent of Greenbrier County Schools, welcomed the Board and introduced staff.

 

III.  Approval of Agenda

 

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

 

IV. Consent Agenda

 

  Upon motion by Mr. Spencer, seconded by Mr. Dunlevy, the Board unanimously approved the Consent Agenda.  (Copies appended to Official Minutes, Attachments A through M and addendum.)

 

· Meeting minutes of April 11 and 12, 2007  (Attachment A)

 

· Budget supplement and transfer requests for the month of April 2007 as follows:  total supplements = $22,289,629 and total transfers = $21,313,154 (Attachment B)

 

· Amendment to the Mercer County Comprehensive Educational Facilities Plan (CEFP) to include allowing private donors/ foundations to construct an indoor hitting pitching facility at Hunnicutt Baseball Field for the use of Princeton High and Princeton Middle School students and the Princeton Devil Rays Baseball Club (100% percent of the construction costs would be paid through private funds) and the extension of electrical service to the athletic complex at Pikeview High School 

 

· Amendment to the Preston County CEFP to include placing students from Central Preston Middle School at the Preston High School site until a new facility is secured for Central Preston Middle School (the reason for this action is the serious structural issues facing the main building on the Central Preston campus).  Due to the extensive costs in addressing those needs and the unavailability of being able to safely use the other four structures on that site, affected students have temporarily been placed in rooms at Preston High School

 

· 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, WVBE Policy 6200 and will be located as close as feasible to the doors of the receiving facility in order to maintain a secure campus

 

· School facility reviews for Fairplain Elementary, Henry J. Kaiser Elementary and Ripley High School in Jackson County; Frankfort Middle School, Frankfort High School, and Keyser High School in Mineral County; Beckley Elementary, Beckley Stratton Middle School, Daniels Elementary, Independence Middle School, Shady Spring Middle School, Shady Spring Vocational Agriculture, and Trap Hill Middle School in Raleigh County (Attachment C)

 

· Seven requests for waivers of WVBE policy and one request for continuation of a waiver of WVBE policy  (Attachment D)

 

· Seven additional county applications representing summer school at 11 county locations  (Attachment E)

 

· Employment of Substitute Teachers in Areas of Critical Need policies for Greenbrier, Hampshire, Wetzel and Wood County Schools  (Attachment F)

 

· Office of Institutional Education Programs school calendars and granted the Superintendent of the Office of Institutional Education Programs the authority to approve minor amendments to the school calendars, as needed, for good cause  (Attachment G)

 

· Application to receive the Federal Fiscal Year 2007 Grant Award Under Part B of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) as Amended in 2004  (Attachment H)

 

· Policy 2525, West Virginia's Universal Access to a Quality Early Education System (as distributed on May 9, 2007) for placement on public comment for 30 days  (Attachment I and addendum)

 

· Affected portions of West Virginia Secondary School Activities Commission (WVSSAC)  Series 1 - Constitution, Series 3 - Provisions Governing Contests, Series 4 - Provisions Governing Conduct and Series 6 - Violations of the Rules, for placement on public comment for 30 days  (Attachment J)

 

· Jim Hamrick for appointment to the WVSSAC Review Board  (Attachment K)

 

· Continuation of Follansbee Middle School’s Full Accreditation status, Wellsburg Middle School’s Conditional Accreditation status  and continued the Full Approval status of the Brooke County School System  (Attachment L)

 

· Continuation of Weir Middle School’s Full Accreditation status and continued the Full Approval status of the Hancock County School System  (Attachment M).

 

V.  Reports

  Board Member/Committee Reports.  President Johnson, with the assistance of Ms. Terry Reale (distributed information), Coordinator, WVDE Office of Instruction, provided a report regarding their attendance at the National Association of State Boards of Education NASBE Literacy Conference; attended a stakeholder group meeting regarding Policies 5100 and 5202 and met with Dr. Patricia Kusimo, Chief Executive Officer, West Virginia Center for Professional Development, regarding the West Virginia Master Plan for Statewide Professional Development (copy distributed) and requested that the Board’s RESA Committee take up the issue of on-line registration for professional development through the RESAs and also the placement of the master plan template as an on-line option; attended the WVEA Delegate Assembly; and will participate in a June 7 meeting with Mr. Eric Hirsch, Vice President of Research and Policy, Center for Teaching Quality, regarding the proposed teacher survey.  Ms. Haden distributed and presented information regarding WVPASS; provided information regarding Youth and Government activities and the upcoming NASBE election; reported on the Educational Broadcasting Authority’s search for a director; and, requested the Board’s support of her nomination as a member of the National Center for Learning and Citizenship (NCLC) Board. President Johnson moved, and Mr. Dunlevy seconded, that Ms.  Haden accept the nomination to  the NCLC Board.  The motion was carried unanimously.  Mrs. Manchin announced 21st Century Partnership events scheduled for June 3 and 4.  (Copies appended to Official Minutes, Attachment Q.)

  State Superintendent’s Report.  Superintendent Paine, with the assistance of Ms. Beverly Kingery (distributed information), Coordinator, WVDE Office of Special Programs, Extended and Early Learning, provided Reading First program results; discussed Department salary increases for 2007-2008; provided an update regarding Mingo County; provided a  brief overview of 21st Century Partnership activities to take place on June 4 and 5; and announced the development and submission of a grant for Advanced Placement and Advanced Placement training.  (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment Mc and addendum.)

 

VI.  Break

 

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

 

VII.  Call to Order

 

  President Johnson called the meeting back to order at 10:30 a.m.

 

VIII. Approval of Memorandum of Understanding,

  Exit Strategy for the Hampshire County School System

 

  Dr. Jack McClanahan, Deputy State Superintendent of Schools, presented the Memorandum of Understanding/exit strategy for the Hampshire County School System for the Board’s consideration.  In January 2006 the WVBE intervened in the Hampshire County School System in two areas:  Finance and Personnel.  Ms. Cynthia Kolsun was appointed by Superintendent Paine as the Hampshire County Superintendent of Schools.  As per the requirements of the exit strategy approved by the WVBE, the Office of Education Performance Audits completed an audit of the school system and verified the correction of the deficiencies cited in the previous audit.  The West Virginia School Boards Association trained the Hampshire County School Board in the areas identified.  The Hampshire County School Board and the superintendent carefully reviewed the finances of the county and understand the county’s Comprehensive Educational Facilities Plan (CEFP).

 

  Upon motion by Mrs. Cook, seconded by Ms. Hatfield, and unanimously carried, the Board returned authority to the Hampshire County Board of Education in accordance with the Memorandum of Understanding.  (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment N and  signed agreement appended to Attachment N as an addendum.)

 

 

 

IX. WVBE Personnel Matters Including the Hiring of

the Superintendent of the West Virginia Schools for the Deaf and the Blind

 

  Dr. McClanahan presented the Board’s personnel items, including an addendum, for consideration and Ms. Haden provided an update regarding the Superintendent of the West Virginia Schools for the Deaf and the Blind search.  Ms. Haden presented the interview committee’s recommendation of Dr. Patsy K. Shank to serve as the next Superintendent of the West Virginia Schools for the Deaf and the Blind for the Board’s consideration.

  Upon motion by Mr. Dunlevy, seconded by Ms. Haden, the Board unanimously approved the Board’s personnel matters, including the hiring of Dr. Patsy Shank as Superintendent of the West Virginia Schools for the Deaf and the Blind effective July 1, 2007 and also accepted the resignation of Ms. Cynthia Kolsun as Superintendent of Hampshire County Schools effective July 13, 2007.  (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment O and addendum.)  

 

X. Superintendent’s Report (Continued)

 

  Superintendent Paine provided the Department’s personnel items, including an addendum, for the Board’s information.  (Addendum may be found at Attachment Mc and addendum.)

 

XI.  Executive Session

 

  As the presiding officer, President Johnson informed the members that he had identified various matters 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 Mrs. Cook, seconded by Mrs. Manchin, and unanimously carried, the Board entered into Executive Session at 10:52 a.m.

 

XII.  Return from Executive Session

 

  The Board returned from Executive Session at 11:37 a.m. at which time President Johnson announced that no action was taken and no decisions were made.

 

XIII. Board Items for Future Consideration

 

  President Johnson stated the West Virginia Commission for Professional Teaching Standards wished to host a reception for the Board on Tuesday evening, July 10; the Board will take up the student representation to WVBE meetings initiative at the June meeting; and an update regarding school safety is to be scheduled for the July meeting.  President Johnson requested that additional items for placement on the June agenda are to be provided to him or Dr. McClanahan as soon as possible.  (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment P.)

 

 

XIV.  Future Meetings

 

  The next regular meeting of the Board will be held June 13-14, 2007 in Charleston, West Virginia.

 

XV. Adjournment

 

  Upon motion by Ms. Haden, seconded by Ms. Hatfield and unanimously carried, the Board adjourned at 11:42 a.m.

 

    Minutes approved by the Board on June 14, 2007.

 

 

 

  Lowell E. Johnson, President

 

 

 

  Priscilla M. Haden, Secretary

 

 

Minutes were recorded by

Virginia M. Harris

Executive Secretary to the Board.

wvbeminutes5/10/07