MINUTES

WEST VIRGINIA BOARD OF EDUCATION

Board Conference Room

Capitol Building 6, Room 353

1900 Kanawha Boulevard, East

Charleston, West Virginia

December 13, 2007

I.  Call to Order

  President Delores W. Cook called the meeting of the West Virginia Board of Education (WVBE) to order at 9:07 a.m. on December 13, 2007, in the Board Conference Room, Capitol Building 6, Room 353, 1900 Kanawha Boulevard, East, Charleston, West Virginia.

  The following members were present:  President 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 officios Steven L. Paine, State Superintendent of Schools, and James L. Skidmore, Chancellor, West Virginia Council for Community and Technical College Education.  Student representative in attendance was Mitchel Kawash of Charleston who George Washington High School.  Member absent was ex officio Brian E. Noland, Chancellor, West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission.   

II. Approval of Agenda

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

III. Consent Agenda

  President Cook requested that Consent Agenda item 17.  Policy 2200, Parent Involvement in Education (Attachment P), be removed from the agenda.  Upon motion by Mrs. Fish, seconded by Mr. Dunlevy, the Board unanimously approved the Consent Agenda as amended.  (Copies appended to Official Minutes, Attachments A through O and Q through U.)

· Meeting minutes of October 25, November 14 and 15, 2007  (Attachment A)

· Budget supplement and transfer requests for the month of November 2007 as follows: total supplements = $135,495,472 and total transfers = $45,292,963 (Attachment B)

· Amendment to the Berkeley County Comprehensive Educational Facilities Plan to include the addition of three eight-classroom modular structures; one at Hedgesville High School, one at Martinsburg High School and one at Marlowe Elementary and approved the Berkeley County School Access Safety Plan.  Three modular structures were moved from Marlowe Elementary to Musselman High School and one modular structure was moved from Marlowe Elementary to Musselman Middle School  (Attachment C)

· Amendment to the Fayette County Comprehensive Educational Facilities Plan to include roof replacements at Oak Hill High School, Midland Trail High School and Fayetteville High School and approved the Fayette County School Access Safety Plan  (Attachment D)

· Amendment to the Greenbrier County Comprehensive Educational Facilities Plan to include approval of the Greenbrier County School Access Safety Plan  (Attachment E)

· Amendment to the Lewis County Comprehensive Educational Facilities Plan to include approval of the Lewis County School Access Safety Plan  (Attachment F)

· Amendment to the Logan County Comprehensive Educational Facilities Plan to include the addition of the Ralph R. Willis Career and Technical Center in their Ten Year Comprehensive Educational Facilities Plan and the updating of school fire alarm systems and rescue ventilation windows in schools throughout the county  (Attachment G)

· Amendment to the Mercer County Comprehensive Educational Facilities Plan to include the construction of a multi-purpose facility with a small gymnasium with stage area, restrooms, and storage on the campus of Straley Elementary School and approved the Mercer County School Access Safety Plan  (Attachment H)

· Amendment to the Monongalia County Comprehensive Educational Facilities Plan to include the replacement of outdated outside air handling units at Mountainview Elementary School (Attachment I)

· Amendment to the Raleigh County Comprehensive Educational Facilities Plan to include the construction of four additional classrooms at Shady Spring Middle School  (Attachment J)

· Amendment to the Taylor County Comprehensive Educational Facilities Plan to include the approval of the Taylor County School Access Safety Plan  (Attachment K)

· Amendment to the Upshur County Comprehensive Educational Facilities Plan to include the closure of Academy Primary School and Buckhannon-Upshur Intermediate School (both to be merged into the Buckhannon Academy Elementary School)  (Attachment L)

· Amendment to the Wood County Comprehensive Educational Facilities Plan to include maintaining the current grade configuration at Williamstown High School, Williamstown Elementary School and Waverly Elementary School and that the schools remain at their present locations and approved the Wood County School Access Safety Plan  (Attachment M)

· Notifications, per Senate Bill 227, W. Va. Code §18A-4-7a, Transfer of Teachers After Five Days Prior to Starting Instruction, from Raleigh and Wood County Schools  (Attachment Mc)

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

· Educator Preparation Program at American Public University Systems  (Attachment O)

· Placed of teacher preparation programs at Wheeling Jesuit University on conditional approval status for a period not to exceed 18 months

· Policy 2444.4, Issuance of the State of West Virginia High School Equivalency Diploma Based Upon Passage of the General Educational Development (GED®) on public comment for 30 days  (Attachment Q)

· Policy 2445.40, Groupings for Textbook Adoption for Early Childhood Education, Middle Childhood Education, and Adolescent Education  (Attachment R)

· Policy 2445.41, "Textbooks" Adoption:  Notice, Request, and Instructions to Publishers  (Attachment S)

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

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

IV.  Reports

  Board Member/Committee Reports.  President Cook, Ms. Haden, Mrs. Manchin, Dr. Johnson, Mrs. Fish, Ms. Phillips, Mr. Dunlevy, and Mr. Spencer provided information regarding their participation in a number of meetings and events.

  President Cook appointed Mrs. Fish (chair), Ms. Phillips and Dr. Johnson, to a committee to review the alignment of Policy 6200, Handbook on Planning School Facilities, with 21st Century skills/learning.

  Upon motion by Mrs. Manchin, seconded by Ms. Phillips, the Board accepted the Board member reports.

  WVBE Legislative Committee Report.  President Cook and Dr. Jack McClanahan (distributed information), Deputy State Superintendent of Schools, provided a report regarding the December 6 meeting of the Board’s Legislative Committee. Discussion ensued regarding a number of the improvement requests.  It was decided that further discussion regarding the Golden Horseshoe Test would take place at the January meeting.

  Mr. Joe Panetta (distributed information), WVDE Office of School Finance, addressed the Board regarding proposed revisions to the public school support program. 

  Upon motion by Mr. Spencer, seconded by Ms. Hatfield, the Board unanimously accepted and approved the legislative committee report and recommendations.  (Copies appended to Official Minutes, Attachment BB.)

V. Break

  President Cook called for a break at 10:58 a.m.

VI. Call to Order

  President Cook called the meeting back to order at 11:08 a.m.

VII.  Reports (Continued)

  WVBE Wellness Committee Report.  Mrs. Fish provided a report on the behalf of the committee regarding items discussed at the December 12 committee meeting including the health and physical education academy, Policy 4321.1, Standards for School Nutrition, and an Alliance for a Healthier Generation proposal.

  Upon motion by Mr. Spencer, seconded by Ms. Phillips, the Board unanimously accepted the Wellness Committee report.

  State Superintendent’s Report.  Superintendent Paine presented Department personnel actions (Attachment V) for the Board’s information; provided reports in Lincoln, McDowell and Mingo Counties; and provided an historical overview of Board Policy 2515, Uniform Grading, and particularly “'126-37-4. Weighted Grades at 4.1. County boards of education have discretionary authority to issue weighted grades for courses for which high school credit is to be awarded in accordance with county policy.”  Dr. Patricia S. Kusimo, Chief Executive Officer, West Virginia Center for Professional Development, addressed the Board regarding advanced placement courses.  Superintendent Paine will bring proposed amendments to Policy 2515 to the Board for discussion and possible action at the January meeting.  Superintendent Paine also discussed the need for more broadband, technology course enrollment and jobs available upon completion of a technology course.  Superintendent Paine reported that he and Dr. Kenna R. Seal, Director of the Office of Education Performance Audits, have consulted regarding the development of a building level self‑assessment process/procedure and will bring a formal presentation to the Board at a future meeting.  (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment V.)

  Upon motion by Mrs. Manchin, seconded by Dr. Johnson, the Board unanimously accepted the Superintendent’s report.

  West Virginia Parent Connections, a Parental Information and Resource Center.  Ms. Anita Deck (distributed brochure), Project Director, West Virginia Parent Connections at Edvantia, Inc., addressed the Board.  West Virginia Parent Connections (WVPC) is one of 63 Parental Information and Resource Centers (PIRCs) funded by 5-year grants from the U. S. Department of Education. The purpose of the PIRCs is to help schools and school districts implement parental involvement activities that lead to improved student achievement and stronger partnerships between families and educators. The WVPC provides technical assistance to parents and educators statewide and to districts that need assistance in meeting Title I and No Child Left Behind parent involvement requirements. The services and resources are customized to meet each region's (Northern, Southern, and Eastern) unique needs.  (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment W and addendum.)

VIII.  Teacher Shortage Report

  Mr. Nathan Estel, Executive Director, WVDE Office of Professional Preparation, provided an update regarding the November 29 meeting of the Department’s Teacher Shortage Committee.  At its October 2007 meeting, the WVBE requested that the WVDE convene a group of educational stakeholders to examine the issues that prevent county boards of education from recruiting appropriately certified personnel and staffing classrooms with highly qualified teachers.  A series of recommendations made by the group convened to examine the issues was presented.  Dr. Rosalyn Templeton, Marshall University, Dr. Paul Chewning, Independent Colleges and Universities, and Dr. Susan Aloi, West Virginia Wesleyan College, also addressed the Board.

  Following discussion and upon motion by Dr. Johnson, seconded by Mrs. Fish, the Board unanimously approved the Teacher Shortage Report with the understanding that the report is included in the Board’s legislative package and that the work of the committee will continue.   (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment X.)

IX. WVBE Response to the West Virginia Advisory Council

  for the Education of Exceptional Children (WVACEEC)

Annual Report

  Mrs. Fish [distributed an amendment to the response to change the wording at the Personnel section to amend W. Va. Code §18A-5-8(g)] presented the response on behalf of the Board’s WVACEEC Response Committee for the Board’s consideration.

  Upon motion by Ms. Haden, seconded by Ms. Phillips, the Board unanimously approved the amendment.

   Upon motion by Dr. Johnson, seconded by Mr. Dunlevy, the Board unanimously approved the response as amended.  (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment Y and addendum.)

X.  Board Items for Future Consideration

  President Cook requested items, inclusive of an item dealing with the Golden Horseshoe test, to be considered for placement on a future agenda to be provided to Dr. McClanahan as soon as possible.  Dr. Johnson requested that a presentation from the PTA be added to the January agenda.  (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment AA.)

XI. WVBE Personnel Matters/Executive Session

  President Cook requested a motion to enter into Executive Session in accordance with W. Va. Code §6-9A-4(b)(2)(A), to discuss a personnel matter.

  Upon motion by Ms. Haden, seconded by Dr. Johnson, the Board unanimously entered into Executive Session at 12:55 p.m. to discuss a personnel matter.

XII. Return from Executive Session

  The Board returned from Executive Session at 1:35 p.m. at which time President Cook announced that no action was taken.

  Upon motion by Mr. Dunlevy, seconded by Ms. Phillips, the Board unanimously approved the Board’s personnel items.  (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment Z.)

  Upon motion by Mr. Spencer, seconded by Mrs. Fish, the Board unanimously accepted the retirement of Mr. Rick Powell, Executive Director of Regional Education Service Agency (RESA) II, effective January 1, 2008.  (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment CC.)

  President Cook appointed Ms. Hatfield and Mr. Spencer to serve with her on a search committee to fill the position of Executive Director of RESA II.

XIII.  Future Meetings

  The next regular meeting of the Board will be held January 9-10, 2008 in Charleston, West Virginia. 

XIV.  Adjournment

  Upon motion by Mr. Dunlevy, seconded by Ms. Phillips and unanimously carried, the Board adjourned at 1:47 p.m.

    Minutes approved by the Board on January 10, 2008.

    _______________________________________________

  Delores W. Cook, President

_______________________________________________

   Ronald B. Spencer, Secretary

Minutes were recorded by

Virginia M. Harris

Executive Secretary to the Board.

   Wvbeminutes12/13/07