MINUTES

WEST VIRGINIA BOARD OF EDUCATION

Board Conference Room

Capitol Building 6, Room 353

1900 Kanawha Boulevard, East

Charleston, West Virginia

September 12, 2007

I.  Call to Order

  President Cook called the meeting of the West Virginia Board of Education (WVBE) to order at 12:30 p.m. on September 12, 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, Robert W. Dunlevy (via telephone), 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.  Student representative in attendance was Cameron F. Wilson of Spencer who attends Roane County High School.  Members absent were Secretary Ronald B. Spencer 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. Recognitions

  President Cook recognized Mr. Ron DiLorenzo, dean of students at Wheeling Park High School, Ohio County Schools, as the 2007 recipient of the Paul J. Morris Character Educator of the Year Award.

III. Approval of Agenda

  Upon motion by Dr. Johnson, seconded by Ms. Phillips, the Board unanimously approved the agenda.

IV.  Approval of Exemplary Accreditation Status Schools

  Dr. Kenna R. Seal, Director, Office of Education Performance Audits (OEPA), distributed an amended list of proposed Exemplary Accreditation status schools, adding George Washington High School (Kanawha County), presented performance data for schools and recommended that the schools found in the amended list be awarded Exemplary Accreditation status. 

  Upon recommendation of Dr. Seal and a motion by Dr. Johnson, seconded by Ms. Haden, the Board unanimously approved Exemplary Accreditation status for the schools listed in the amended attachment.  (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment A and addendum.)

V. Follow-up Education Performance Audits

  Dr. Seal presented schools recommended for Education Performance Audit reviews. 

  Upon recommendation of Dr. Seal and a motion by Mrs. Manchin, seconded by Ms. Phillips, the Board unanimously approved Education Performance Audit reviews for the schools listed in the attachment.  (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment B.)

VI.  Policy 2320, A Process for Improving Education -

  Performance Based Accreditation System

  Dr. Seal presented Policy 2320 for the Board’s consideration.  Policy 2320 is being revised to reflect revisions in compliance with Senate Bill 657 and also to include audits of the Regional Education Service Agencies (RESAs).

  Upon recommendation of Dr. Seal and a motion by Mrs. Manchin, seconded by Dr. Johnson, the Board unanimously placed Policy 2320 on public comment until October 22, 2007.  (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment C.)

VII.  Executive Session

Selection of Schools and County School Systems

for Education Performance Audits

  Upon motion by Ms. Haden, seconded by Ms. Phillips, the Board unanimously moved into Executive Session at 1:22 p.m., in accordance with W. Va. Code §18-2E-5(k)(l), to discuss the selection of schools and county school systems for Education Performance Audits.

VIII. Return from Executive Session

  The Board returned from Executive Session at 1:45 p.m. at which time President Cook announced that no action was taken.

IX. Break

  President Cook called for a break at 1:46 p.m.

X. Call to Order

  President Cook called the meeting back to order at 2:02 p.m.

XI. Policy 2423, Communicable Disease Control

  Ms. Melanie Purkey, Executive Director, WVDE’s Office of Office of Healthy Schools, distributed an amended comment log and presented Policy 2423 for the Board’s consideration.  (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment F and to the Official Minutes of September 13, 2007 at Attachment H as an addendum.)

XII.  Policy 4334, West Virginia Minimum Requirements for

Design and Equipment of School Buses

  Mr. Ben Shew, Executive Director, WVDE’s Office of Transportation, presented Policy 4334 for the Board’s consideration.  (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment D and to the Official Minutes of September 13, 2007 at Attachment I.)

XIII.  Report - Analyzing the School Lunch Program

  Ms. Celeste Peggs, Coordinator, and Mr. Rick Goff, Executive Director, WVDE’s Office of Child Nutrition, distributed a document titled Sweet Deals:  School Fundraising Can Be Healthy and Profitable and presented trend data relating to the annual collection and nutrient analysis of the school lunch program.  This presentation also explored fund raising opportunities in schools.  (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment G.)

XIV.  Report - 2007 Fourth Grade Writing Assessment

  Dr. Jan Barth, Executive Director, WVDE’s Office of Assessment and Accountability, and Dr. Jorea Marple, Assistant State Superintendent, Division of Curriculum and Instructional Services, presented updated information and answered questions regarding state and county performance for the 2007 Fourth Grade Writing Assessment.  Longitudinal data was provided from 2005 to 2007 to include the percent of students At or Above Mastery and the percent of students Below Mastery.   (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment E.)

XV. Report - Creative Curriculum Report

  Dr. Lynn Boyer, Executive Director, and Ms. Rhonda Young, Pre-K Coach, WVDE’s Office of Special Programs, Extended and Early Learning, provided a report regarding The Creative Curriculum® Approach.  Information regarding Creative Curriculum® may be found at www.creativecurriculum.net.

XVI. Executive Session

  As the presiding officer, President Cook informed the members that she 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 Ms. Haden, seconded by Dr. Johnson, and unanimously carried, the Board entered into Executive Session at 3:21p.m.

XVII.  Return from Executive Session

  The Board returned from Executive Session at 4:35 p.m. at which time President Cook announced that no action was taken and no decisions were made.

President Cook asked if there was a motion as a result of the Executive Session.  Dr. Johnson moved that the Board, acting in good faith, develop a plan in accordance with the advice given by the Honorable James Stucky at the hearing held on August 29 in the lawsuit styled Berkeley County Education Association vs. West Virginia Board of Education; that the plan be developed in consultation with the West Virginia Development Office, Dr. Tom Witt, and Dr. Cal Kent; and that the plan be brought back to the Board at its October meeting for approval.  Ms. Haden seconded the motion and it was carried unanimously.

XVIII. Future Meetings

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

XIX.  Adjournment

  President Cook adjourned the meeting at 4:42 p.m.

    Minutes approved by the Board on October 9, 2007.

    _______________________________________________

  Delores W. Cook, President

_______________________________________________

   Ronald B. Spencer, Secretary

Minutes were recorded by

Virginia M. Harris

Executive Secretary to the Board.

   Wvbeminutes9/12/07