MINUTES

WEST VIRGINIA BOARD OF EDUCATION

Board Conference Room

Capitol Building 6, Room 353

1900 Kanawha Boulevard, East

Charleston, West Virginia

August 9, 2007

I.  Call to Order

  President Cook called the meeting of the West Virginia Board of Education (WVBE) to order at 9:00 a.m. on August 9, 2007, in the Board Conference Room, Capitol Building 6, Room 353, 1900 Kanawha Boulevard, East, Charleston, West Virginia.

  The following members were present:  President Delores W. Cook, Vice President Priscilla M. Haden, Secretary Ronald B. Spencer, Robert W. Dunlevy, Barbara N. Fish, Burma Hatfield, Lowell E. Johnson, Gayle C. Manchin, and Jenny N. Phillips, 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.  Delegations

  President Cook recognized Mr. George Coussouli, Ms. Patricia Neely (submitted remarks), Ms. Bonnie Fike, and Mr. Randall Ware, residents of Randolph County, who addressed the Board regarding Valley Head School, and Ms. Misty Pritt, resident of Gilmer County, who addressed the Board regarding Normantown Elementary.  (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment W.)

III. Approval of Agenda

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

IV. Consent Agenda

  Dr. Johnson requested that Consent Agenda item 2.  Waivers of West Virginia Board of Education (WVBE) Policies and Regulations, Superintendent's Interpretations and State Statutes and Legislative Rules be removed from the Consent Agenda for discussion and action to immediately follow approval of the Consent Agenda.  Upon motion by Dr. Johnson, seconded by Ms. Haden, the Board unanimously approved the Consent Agenda as amended.  (Copies appended to Official Minutes, Attachments A, B, D through K, and R.)

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

· Budget supplement and transfer requests for the month of June 2007 as follows:  total addendum supplements = $5,310 and total addendum transfers = $198,413 and for the month of July 2007 as follows: total supplements = $20,431,946 and total transfers = $9,650,220 (Attachment B)

· Employment of Substitute Teachers in Areas of Critical Need policies for Monongalia, Tyler and Wood County Schools  (Attachment D)

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

· Policy 5100, Approval of Educational Personnel Preparation Programs (Attachment F)

· Policy 5202, Minimum Requirements for the Licensure of Professional/Paraprofessional Personnel and Advanced Salary Classifications  (Attachment G)

· Policy 2520.2, 21st Century Mathematics Content Standards and Objectives for West Virginia Schools for placement on public comment for 45 days  (Attachment H)

· Policy 4334, West Virginia Minimum Requirements for Design and Equipment of School Buses for placement on public comment for 30 days  (Attachment I)

· Office of Education Performance Audits FY 2008 Strategic Plan Report  (Attachment J)

· 2007 Exemplary Programs Brochure  (Attachment K)

· County plans for implementation of pre-kindergarten system (Attachment R).

V. Waivers of West Virginia Board of Education (WVBE)

Policies and Regulations, Superintendent's Interpretations

  and State Statutes and Legislative Rules

Dr. Johnson requested clarification regarding the waiver process/procedure and suggested options to pursue that would alleviate the need for certain waivers. 

Upon motion by Dr. Johnson, seconded by Ms. Haden, the Board unanimously approved the waiver requests.  (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment C.)


VI.  Reports

  Board Member/Committee Reports.  President Cook provided information regarding her participation in a number of meetings and events; Ms. Haden (distributed information) provided information regarding a number of meetings that she attended, requested that an item concerning Imagination Library (pre-k program) and an item regarding Board involvement or  membership on TEAC be placed on a future agenda, and presented an update regarding the student representative initiative; Dr. Johnson (distributed information) provided reports regarding the West Virginia Teaching and Learning Conditions survey initiative, action with regard to West Virginia becoming a Learning First Alliance affiliate state, and his attendance at a recent adolescent literacy conference; and, Mrs. Fish (distributed information) provided an update regarding nutrition events and initiatives and provided information regarding the proper use of sports drinks.  (Copies appended to Official Minutes, Attachment S.)

  State Superintendent’s Report.  Superintendent Paine presented Department personnel actions (Attachment L) for the Board’s information and provided updates in Lincoln, McDowell and Mingo Counties. 

  Dr. Pamela S. Cain, Assistant State Superintendent, Division of Student Support Services, opened discussion regarding facility issues at Normantown Elementary School in Gilmer County and Valley Head Elementary School in Randolph County.  Mr. Edward T. Toman (distributed information, Attachment T), Superintendent, Gilmer County Schools, addressed the Board, providing background information regarding actions taken with regard to, and presented a CEFP amendment for the Board’s consideration regarding, Normantown Elementary School.  Upon motion by Dr. Johnson, seconded by Mrs. Fish, the Board unanimously approved the Gilmer County CEFP amendment.

  Ms. Susan Hinzman, Superintendent, Randolph County Schools, addressed the Board and provided an update regarding facility issues at Valley Head Elementary; State Fire Marshal Sterling Lewis stated, and addressed questions regarding, facility issues at Valley Head Elementary and issued a date certain of August 23 for the closure of the school if an acceptable plan of correction is not presented; Heather L. Deskins, General Counsel to the WVDE and the WVBE provided the W. Va. Code section that sets forth the responsibility of the State Superintendent with regard to recommendations and reports presented by other regulatory agencies that deal with public schools.

VII.  Break

  President Cook called for a break at 10:45 a.m.

VIII.  Call to Order

  President Cook called the meeting back to order at 11:00 a.m.


IX. Reports (Continued)

  Superintendent’s Report (Continued).  Dr. Jorea Marple, Assistant State Superintendent, Division of Curriculum and Instructional Services, and Ms. Brenda Williams (distributed information), Executive Director, WVDE’s Office of Instructional Technology, presented an in-depth report (Attachment M and addendum) regarding the WVDE’s technology budget.

  Dr. Karen Huffman, Special Assistant, Mr. Charles Heinlein, Resident Director, Division of Special Projects/Superintendent's Center for 21st Century Schools, and institute evaluators Dr. Paul Chapman (distributed information), West Virginia University, and Dr. Barbara L. Cunningham and Dr. Michael L. Nicholson, Marshall University, presented the 2006-2007 West Virginia Institute for 21st Century Leadership final report (Attachment N and addendum) for the Board’s information. 

    Dr. Stanley Hopkins, Assistant State Superintendent, Division of Technical and Adult Education Services, presented Taking Career and Technical Education to the Next Level in West Virginia - A Report on the Legislative Study Mandated by Senate Concurrent Resolution 42 (Attachment Mc and addendum) for the Board’s information.  Dr. Hopkins requested Board members consider being part of a committee to work toward implementing the report’s recommendations.  

  Superintendent Paine distributed a guidance memorandum (Attachment U) regarding school supplies for the Board’s review.  It was the consensus of the Board that the document required minor modification (i.e., all supplies purchased are to be available to all students and contingency plans must be a written statement developed at the local level).  Upon revision the document is to be provided to President Cook for approval prior to statewide distribution.  Superintendent Paine also announced that he has been nominated, by Secretary Margaret Spellings, to serve on the USDE’s National Assessment Governing Board (NAGB).  (Copies appended to Official Minutes, Attachments L, M and addendum, Mc and addendum, N and addendum, T and U.)

X.  WVBE Personnel Matters

  Upon motion by Dr. Johnson, seconded by Ms. Hatfield, the Board unanimously approved the Board’s personnel items with a correction requested by Mrs. Fish (that the reference to Mason County be corrected to properly reflect that Mason County is located in RESA II).  (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment O.)

XI. Appointments - WVBE Statutory Units/Liaisons/

Presidential Committees 2007-2008

  President Cook distributed proposed Board Committee appointments for 2007-2008 for the Board’s consideration.  Mrs. Fish issued concern regarding the term listed for her appointment to the School Building Authority of West Virginia.  President Cook requested that Ms. Deskins research the amendment to W. Va. Code and provide clarification regarding the concern issued by Mrs. Fish.   

  Upon motion by Dr. Johnson, seconded by Ms. Haden, the Board unanimously approved the appointments.  (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment V.)

XII. WVBE Meeting Dates and Locations 2007-2008

  President Cook requested a motion to approve the WVBE meeting dates and locates for 2007-2008.

  Upon motion by Dr. Johnson, seconded by Ms. Haden, the Board unanimously approved the 2007-2008 meeting dates and locations. (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment P.)

XIII. Board Items for Future Consideration

  Mrs. Manchin requested that an avenue be pursued that will assure that students have a voice in their education.  Superintendent Paine indicated that the Department would look into this matter and bring a recommendation to the Board at the September meeting.  Superintendent Paine issued a concern regarding the graduation rate and requested that discussion begin as quickly as possible regarding a change to state law that would move the drop-out age from 16 to 18.  President Cook requested that additional items to be considered for placement on a future agenda to be provided to Dr. McClanahan as soon as possible.  (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment Q.)

XIV.  Future Meetings

  The next regular meeting of the Board will be held September 12-13, 2007 in Charleston, West Virginia.

XV.  Adjournment

  Upon motion by Ms. Haden, seconded by Mrs. Manchin and unanimously carried, the Board adjourned at 1:15 p.m.

    Minutes approved by the Board on September 13, 2007.

    _______________________________________________

  Delores W. Cook, President

_______________________________________________

   Ronald B. Spencer, Secretary

Minutes were recorded by


Virginia M. Harris

Executive Secretary to the Board.

   Wvbeminutes8/9/07