MINUTES

WEST VIRGINIA BOARD OF EDUCATION

Board Conference Room

Capitol Building 6, Room 353

1900 Kanawha Boulevard, East

Charleston, West Virginia

June 14, 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 June 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, Robert W. Dunlevy, Barbara N. Fish, Burma Hatfield, Gayle C. Manchin, Jenny N. Phillips, and Ronald B. Spencer, and ex officios Steven L. Paine, State Superintendent of Schools, and Brian E. Noland, Chancellor, West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission.  Member absent was James L. Skidmore, Chancellor, West Virginia Council for Community and Technical College Education.

II. Recognitions

  The Board recognized Mr. Mike Hayden, Executive Director of the West Virginia Secondary Schools Activities Commission (retiring in July) and Ms. Sarah J. Dolan, student at Scott High School in Boone County, who has been named a 2007 Presidential Scholar.

III. Delegations

  Ms. Sheri Havernewbrough, Upshur County parent, addressed the Board and submitted her comments to be made a part of the record.  (Copy appended to the Official Minutes at Attachment T.) 

IV.  Approval of Agenda

  President Johnson removed from the Consent Agenda item B.7.  Office of School Facilities – Facility Reviews, Attachment E (this item was approved at the May 10, 2007 meeting).  Ms, Haden removed from the Consent Agenda items B.3. Mingo County - Qualified Zone Academy Bond (QZAB) and B.5. Amendment - Mingo County Comprehensive Educational Facilities Plan for further discussion.  President Johnson placed both items to immediately following the approval of the agenda.  Upon motion by Mrs. Cook, seconded by Ms. Phillips, the Board unanimously approved the agenda as amended.

V.  Mingo County - Qualified Zone Academy Bond (QZAB)

  Mr. Dwight Dials, Superintendent of Mingo County Schools, addressed questions regarding the QZAB and the new high school.

  Upon motion by Ms. Hatfield, seconded by Mr. Dunlevy and unanimously carried, the Board, acting on behalf of the Mingo County Board of Education, will secure a QZAB for the Mingo County Board of Education in the amount of $1,000,000 to be used toward completion of the new Mingo County High School.

VI. Amendment - Mingo County Comprehensive Educational Facilities Plan

  The Mingo County Board of Education requested an amendment to the Mingo County CEFP to include:  the closure of Gilbert High School and Mingo Career & Technical Center, the reassignment of Gilbert High School grades 9-12 to the comprehensive high school aforementioned, the reassignment of Gilbert Elementary grades 5-6 to the existing Gilbert High School facility which will become Gilbert Middle School for grades 5-8

  Mr. Dials addressed questions regarding the closure and reassignments.  Upon motion by Mrs. Manchin, seconded by Ms. Phillips, the Board unanimously approved the amendment.

VII. Reports

IOM Standards for Foods in Schools.  Mrs. Fish (distributed information) provided a Power Point presentation regarding the recently released IOM Standards for Foods in Schools report.  (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment U .)

  Board Member/Committee Reports.  Mrs. Fish (distributed information) provided information regarding a recent meeting of the Board’s Wellness Committee.  Ms. Haden provided reports regarding her attendance at the following meetings:  1) National Board Certification of Teachers, open house at Walker Machinery, and Educational Broadcasting Authority meeting.  Mrs. Cook attended a National Association of State Boards of Education (NASBE) Schools for Success meeting.  President Johnson attended a number of 21st Century Skills activities (along with a number of other members), a meeting of the Teacher Working Conditions Survey Initiative Key Stakeholders meeting, and a meeting of RESA I to discuss the role of the Regional Council as set forth in Policy 3233.  (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment V.)

  President Johnson provided information and recommended that the Board (through Superintendent Paine) develop a plan of action to become a Learning First affiliate to facilitate 21st Century Skills.  Ms. Haden urged caution regarding possible costs and duplication of effort with regard to becoming an affiliate as other groups may already be involved in this area.  Mrs. Fish asked if there would be implications for staff or the assignment of additional duties to staff.  President Johnson requested that an item be placed on the July agenda and that Superintendent Paine have a plan of action developed for the Board’s review.

  Mrs. Manchin reported that she, as First Lady, and the Governor hosted many of the 21st Century Partnership activities.  Mrs. Manchin also reported that she presented a report at a legislative conference sponsored by The Council of State Governments. 

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 10:50 a.m.

X. Consent Agenda

  President Johnson requested a motion to approve the Consent Agenda.  Upon motion by Ms. Phillips, seconded by Mr. Dunlevy, the Board unanimously approved the Consent Agenda as previously amended.  (Copies appended to Official Minutes, Attachments A through D and F through M.)

· Meeting minutes of May 9 and 10, 2007  (Attachment A)

· Budget supplement and transfer requests for the month of May 2007 as follows:  total supplements = $16,636,289 and total transfers = $7,250,819 (Attachment B)

· County boards of education, regional education service agencies (RESAs), and multi-county vocational centers (MCVCs) budgets for 2007-2008  (Attachment C)

· Amendment to the Boone County CEFP to include the location of two portable units consisting of four classrooms.  The portable units will include two first grade classrooms, one music classroom, and one classroom to be used by two speech therapists and a nurse.  Restrooms are located in the unit housing the first grade and all rooms are handicap accessible.  An awning has been constructed connecting the school facility to the units to protect students from inclement weather

· Amendment to the Mingo County CEFP to include a portable with two classrooms and a restroom facility to house regular classrooms because of overcrowding at Kermit Pre-K-8.  This modular construction will meet all federal, state and regulatory requirements as well as Policy 6200.  Security concerns have been addressed  (Attachment D)

· Four new requests for waivers of WVBE policy, one new request for a waiver of instructional materials, and two requests for continuation of waivers of instructional materials  (Attachment F)

· Nine additional county applications representing summer school at 23 county locations  (Attachment G)

· Eight additional applications for a total of 1,413 applications for Operation Recognition in connection with Policy 4355: High School Diplomas for Veterans  (Attachment H)

· Office of Institutional Education Programs school calendars for the following facilities:  Barboursville School, Beckley Center, Board of Child Care, Burlington Center, Davis Stuart, Elkins Mountain School, Pressley Ridge, and West Virginia Children's Home 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 I)

· Teacher Preparation Programs in Biology, Chemistry and General Science at Alderson-Broaddus College and Multi-Categorical Special Education at West Virginia Wesleyan College

· Policy 2419, Regulations for the Education of Students with Exceptionalities, Chapter 8, Private School Students, Section 4.B. for placement on public comment for 30 days  (Attachment J)

· Policy 2520.7, 21st Century Foreign Language Content Standards and Objectives with an effective date of July 1, 2008  (Attachment K)

· Policy 5100, Approval of Educational Personnel Preparation Programs for placement on public comment for 30 days  (Attachment L)

· Policy 5202, Minimum Requirements for the Licensure of Professional/ Paraprofessional Personnel and Advanced Salary Classification for placement on public comment for 30 days  (Attachment M).

XI.  Reports (Continued)

  State Superintendent’s Report.  Dr. Jack McClanahan, Deputy State Superintendent, distributed a replacement attachment of the Department’s personnel items for June 2007 and addressed questions regarding e-rate funding.  Superintendent Paine (distributed information) provided a status report regarding staff separations for 2006-2007 and provided updates in Hampshire, Lincoln, Mingo and McDowell Counties and the development of websites, by RESAs, for other government entities.  Dr. Amelia Courts provided a Power Point presentation regarding the West Virginia International School, multicultural education and the ESP program.  At the request of President Johnson, Dr. Pamela S. Cain, Assistant State Superintendent, Division of Student Support Services, provided an update regarding parental involvement initiatives.  Chancellor Noland departed the meeting.  (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment Mc and addenda.)

  Annual Report of the West Virginia Advisory Council for the Education of Exceptional Children (WVACEEC).  Dr. Lynn Boyer, Executive Director, WVDE’s Office of Special Programs, Extended and Early Learning, introduced Dr. Michael Sullivan, Executive Director, and Ms. Mel Woodcock, Chair, WVACEEC, who presented the annual report for the Board’s consideration.  President Johnson stated that he and Mrs. Fish would prepare a response to the WVACEEC’s recommendations for the Board’s consideration.  (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment N.)

XII. WVBE Strategic Plan for 2007-2008

  President Johnson, with the assistance of Dr. Karen Larry, Executive Assistant to the State Superintendent, presented the 2007-2008 strategic plan for the Board’s consideration and indicated that further changes may be necessary based on requested information that has not yet been provided.  The amended plan was provided to members following a meeting that took place on June 7.

  Upon motion by Ms. Haden, seconded by Mrs. Cook, the Board unanimously approved the 2007-2008 WVBE strategic plan with the understanding that language may be amended, as necessary, once requested information is provided.

XIII. 2007-2008 Master Plan for Professional Staff Development

  Dr. Larry and Dr. Patricia S. Kusimo, Chief Executive Officer, West Virginia Center for Professional Development, presented the 2007-2008 Master Plan for Professional Staff Development for the Board’s consideration.  Annually, major professional development providers in the state collaborate to prepare a professional staff development plan to submit to the WVBE for approval, as directed by W. Va. Code §18-2-23a.  Upon approval, this plan becomes the master plan for professional development that is to “serve as a guide for the delivery of coordinated professional development programs by the state department of education, the center for professional development, the state institutions of higher education and the regional education service agencies…” (W. Va. Code §18-2-23a(d)).  Dr. Kusimo also presented the following recommendations (attached) regarding the plan for the Board’s consideration:  “Recommendation 1:  Master Plan should be a web-based document.  Recommendation 2.1:  Implement evaluation component.  Recommendation 2.2:  Implement evaluation component.  Recommendation 3:  Commission an interim evaluation report (January, 2008).”

  Upon motion by Mrs. Manchin, seconded by Mrs. Fish, the Board unanimously approved the 2007-2008 Master Plan for Professional Staff Development.  (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment O and addendum.)

XIV. Appointments to the West Virginia Commission

for Professional Teaching Standards (WVCPTS)

  Mr. Nathan Estel, WVDE’s Office of Professional Preparation, presented recommendations for two vacant positions on the WVCPTS.  WVBE Policy 5050 requires that these vacant positions be filled by an elementary school principal and a county superintendent.

  Upon motion by Mrs. Fish, seconded by Ms. Phillips, the Board unanimously appointed elementary school principal Stephen Knighton and county superintendent Carolyn Long to the WVCPTS.  (Copy appended to Official Minutes at Attachment P.)

XV.  Student Representation to the WVBE

  Mr. Chuck Nichols, Executive Director, RESA III, (distributed information) provided an update regarding the student representation initiative.

  Following discussion, Ms. Haden moved that the WVBE have a student/students attend WVBE meetings.  Ms. Phillips seconded the motion and the motion was carried with six members voting yes and three members voting no.  President Johnson appointed the following members to a committee to resolve issues and concerns brought forth during discussion:  Ms. Haden (chair), Mrs. Cook, Mr. Dunlevy and Mrs. Manchin.  (Copy appended to Official Minutes at Attachment W.)

XVI. 2008 NASBE Board of Directors

President Johnson called for nominations to the 2008 NASBE Board of Directors.

  Ms. Haden moved that Kenneth Willard of Kansas be West Virginia=s nominee as President‑elect, Greg Haws of as Utah Secretary-Treasurer and Lowell E. Johnson as the Southern Area Director. Ms. Hatfield seconded the nominations and they were unanimously carried.  (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment Q.)

XVII. WVBE Personnel Matters

Dr. Jack McClanahan, Deputy State Superintendent, distributed a replacement attachment for the Board’s consideration.  Upon motion by Mr. Dunlevy, seconded by Ms. Phillips, the Board unanimously approved the Board’s personnel items as amended.  (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment R and addendum.)

XVIII.  Board Items for Future Consideration

  President Johnson requested items to be considered for placement on a future agenda to be provided to him or Dr. McClanahan.  (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment S.)

XIX. Future Meetings

  The next regular meeting of the Board will be held July 11-12, 2007 in Charleston, West Virginia.  The Board’s Wellness Committee will meet July 12.

XX. Adjournment

  Upon motion by Ms. Hatfield, seconded by Ms. Phillips and unanimously carried, the Board adjourned at 12:55 p.m.

    Minutes approved by the Board on July 12, 2007.

    _______________________________________________

  Lowell E. Johnson, President

_______________________________________________

  Priscilla M. Haden, Secretary

Minutes were recorded by

Virginia M. Harris

Executive Secretary to the Board.

   Wvbeminutes6/14/07