MINUTES
WEST VIRGINIA BOARD OF EDUCATION
Board Conference Room
Capitol Building 6, Room 353
1900 Kanawha Boulevard, East
Charleston, West Virginia
March 11, 2008

 

 

I.                                                                      Call to Order

 

            President Delores W. Cook called the meeting of the West Virginia Board of Education (WVBE) to order at 12:30 p.m. on March 11, 2008, 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, Burma Hatfield, Lowell E. Johnson, Gayle C. Manchin, and Jenny N. Phillips, and ex officios Steven L. Paine, State Superintendent of Schools, and Brian E. Noland, Chancellor, West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission.  Student representative in attendance was Stephen Stolzenberg of Morgantown who attends Morgantown High School.  Members absent were Barbara N. Fish and ex officio James L. Skidmore, Chancellor, West Virginia Council for Community and Technical College Education.

 

II.                                                                      Delegations

 

            Mr. Lee Strunk (distributed information), Ms. Lisa Cochran (distributed information), Mr. Tim Keeney, Ms. Sherri Jones (distributed information), and Mr. Geoff Heeter addressed the Board regarding the proposed closure of Nuttall Middle School in Fayette County.  (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment I.)

 

III.                                                             Approval of Agenda

 

            President Cook requested that item VII. Amendment/Closure - Fayette County Comprehensive Educational Facilities Plan (CEFP) and item VIII. Fayette County Secondary Schools Status Report, be moved to follow the approval of the agenda. Upon motion by Mrs. Manchin, seconded by Dr. Johnson, the Board unanimously approved the agenda as amended.

 

IV.                                              Amendment/Closure - Fayette County

                                         Comprehensive Educational Facilities Plan (CEFP)  

 

            Mr. Bill Elswick, Executive Director, West Virginia Department of Education (WVDE) Office of School Facilities, and Mr. Chris Perkins, Superintendent, Fayette County Schools, addressed the Board and answered questions regarding the proposed amendment of the Fayette County CEFP.  The amendment includes the closure of Nuttall Middle School and change/reconfiguration of Divide Elementary School, Ansted Middle School and Ansted Elementary School effective July 1, 2008.

 

            Upon motion by Mr. Spencer, seconded by Ms. Haden, the Board, with six members voting yes, and two members voting no, approved the amendment to the Fayette County CEFP including the closure of Nuttall Middle School and change/reconfiguration of Divide Elementary School, Ansted Middle School and Ansted Elementary School effective July 1, 2008.  (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment B.) 

 

V.                                      Fayette County Secondary Schools Status Report

 

            Mr. Chuck Heinlein, Coordinator, WVDE Division of Special Projects – Superintendent’s Center for 21st Century Schools, presented a status report outlining the progress Fayette County has made to date in addressing the Office of Education Performance Audits (OEPA) findings and recommendations as well as the work that remains to be completed.  A WVDE technical assistance team has been working with Fayette County central office staff and county high schools to develop strategies for short-term and long-term improvement. 

 

            Upon motion by Dr. Johnson, seconded by Ms. Phillips and unanimously carried, the Board directed the WVDE technical assistance team to continue its work with Fayette County and to provide periodic progress reports to the WVBE.  (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment C.)

 

VI.                                                                         Break

 

            President Cook called for a break at 2:15 p.m. 

 

VII.                                                                  Call to Order

 

            President Cook called the meeting back to order at 2:25 p.m.

 

VIII.                                                 Tough Choices or Tough Times

 

            Superintendent Paine (distributed information), Heather L. Deskins, General Counsel to the Board and the Department, and Dr. Johnson addressed the Board regarding Mr. Marc S. Tucker’s (President of National Center on Education and the Economy) February 13, 2008 presentation regarding Tough Choices or Tough Times and his request that the Board consider joining a consortium of states in partnership with the Commission on the Skills of the American Workforce to discuss/examine:  1) whether there is a broad consensus within each state to implement changes set forth in the report, 2) how the changes would need to be implemented in each state (including a discussion of necessary legislative changes), and 3) the development of a pilot project in each state to begin demonstrating the changes.

 

            Following discussion of Attorney Deskins’ legal analysis, research prepared by Dr. Ann Miller, Scientific Analyst with REL Appalachia, and recommendations presented by Superintendent Paine (found in the attachment), Dr. Johnson moved that the Board accept the recommendations of the State Superintendent plus others that may result upon further research and dialogue with stakeholders.  Mr. Spencer seconded the motion and it was carried unanimously.  (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment J.)

 

IX.                                     Draft Education Performance Audit Reports for

                                 Lewis County Central Office, Jane Lew Elementary School,

                            Peterson-Central Elementary School, Roanoke Elementary School,

                                             and Lewis County High School, Lewis County

 

            Dr. Kenna R. Seal, Director, OEPA, reported that announced on-site reviews were conducted at the Lewis County Central Office, Jane Lew Elementary School, Peterson-Central Elementary School, Roanoke Elementary School, and Lewis County High School January 22 – 24, 2008.  The Office of Education Performance Audits conducted the reviews which were limited in scope to the standards relative to the schools and student performance and progress.  The reviews also consisted of resource evaluation.

 

            Upon the recommendation of Dr. Seal and a motion by Mr. Dunlevy, seconded by Ms. Phillips, the Board unanimously issued Jane Lew Elementary School Distinction Accreditation status, Peterson‑Central Elementary School, Roanoke Elementary School, and Lewis County High School Full Accreditation status, continued the Full Approval status of the Lewis County School System and gave Peterson-Central Elementary School, Roanoke Elementary School, and Lewis County High School and the county until the next accreditation cycle to correct deficiencies noted in the report.  (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment A.)  Chancellor Noland departed the meeting.

 

X.                                     Calhoun County Secondary Schools Status Report

 

            Mr. David Price, Coordinator, WVDE Division of Special Projects – Superintendent’s Center for 21st Century Schools, presented a status report outlining the progress Calhoun County has made to date in addressing the OEPA findings and recommendations as well as the work that remains to be completed.  A WVDE technical assistance team has been working with Calhoun County central office staff and school staff members to develop strategies for short-term and long-term improvement. 

 

            Upon motion by Mrs. Manchin, seconded by Dr. Johnson and unanimously carried, the Board directed the WVDE technical assistance team to continue its work with Calhoun County and to provide periodic progress reports to the WVBE.  (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment D.)

 

XI.                                                     County Superintendent Study

 

            Dr. Howard O’Cull (distributed information), Executive Director, West Virginia School Boards Association, presented an overview of a summary report of the Superintendents for Tomorrow Focus Group entitled, “The State of the Superintendency in West Virginia.”  (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment K.)

 

XII.                 Policy 2200, Parent, Family and Community Involvement in Education

 

            Ms. Betsy Peterson, Coordinator, WVDE Office of Special Programs, Extended and Early Learning, presented Policy 2200 for the Board’s consideration.  (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment E and to the Official Minutes of March 12, 2008 at Attachment G.)

 

XIII.                                Policy 2444.4, Issuance of the State of West Virginia

            General Educational Development (GED®) Diploma

            Based Upon Passage of the GED Tests

 

            Dr. Stan Hopkins, Assistant State Superintendent, Division of Technical and Adult Education Services, and Ms. Debra Kimbler, Coordinator, WVDE Office of Adult Education and Workforce Development, presented Policy 2444.4 for the Board’s consideration.  (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment F and to the Official Minutes of March 12, 2008 at Attachment H.)

 

XIV.                                                  Policy 2515, Uniform Grading

 

            Ms. Carla Williamson, Executive Director, WVDE Office of Instruction, presented Policy 2515 for the Board’s consideration.  Superintendent Paine brought forth some concerns expressed by county superintendents regarding Policy 2515.  Dr. Patricia S. Kusimo, Chief Executive Officer, West Virginia Center for Professional Development, spoke to Advanced Placement examinations, scoring norms (suggested a score of two be considered in order to receive the weighted grade) and avenues that can be pursued for reimbursement.  Following discussion it was decided that this item would be removed from the March 12, 2008 Consent Agenda and placed under New Business for further discussion and action.  (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment G and to the Official Minutes of March 12, 2008 at Attachment I.)

 

XV.                                          Policy 2520.35, 21st Century Science 9-12

                                 Content Standards and Objectives for West Virginia Schools

 

            Ms. Williamson presented Policy 2520.35 for the Board’s consideration.  (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment H and to the Official Minutes of March 12, 2008 at Attachment J.)

 

XVI.                                   Policy 2510, Assuring the Quality of Education:

            Regulations for Education Programs

 

            Dr. Karen Huffman, Special Assistant to the State Superintendent, Division of Special Projects – Superintendent’s Center for 21st Century Schools, presented Policy 2510 for the Board’s consideration.  (Copy appended to Official Minutes of March 12, 2008 at Attachment K.)

 

 

 

 

XVII.                                            West Virginia Assessment Calendar

 

            Dr. Jan Barth, Executive Director, WVDE Office of Assessment/Accountability, presented the assessment calendar for the Board’s consideration.  (Copy appended to Official Minutes of March 12, 2008 at Attachment L.)

 

XVIII.                           West Virginia Annual Application under Part B of the

            Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) as

            Amended in 2004 for Federal Fiscal Year 2008

 

            Dr. Lynn Boyer, Executive Director, WVDE Office of Special Programs, Extended and Early Learning, presented the Annual Application under Part B of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) as Amended in 2004 for Federal Fiscal Year 2008 for the Board’s consideration.  (Copy appended to Official Minutes of March 12, 2008 at Attachment M.)

 

XIX.                                                              Future Meetings

           

            President Cook requested the Board’s direction regarding a live broadcast of the April meeting via the internet; as no objection from members was issued, Boone County officials will be notified that they are welcome to broadcast the meeting.  The next regular meeting of the Board will be held March 12, 2008 in Charleston, West Virginia. 

 

XX.                                                                  Adjournment

 

            Upon motion by Ms. Phillips, seconded by Mr. Dunlevy and unanimously carried, the Board adjourned at 4:40 p.m.

 

                                                            Minutes approved by the Board on April 10, 2008.

 

 

 

                                                            _______________________________________________

                                                            Delores W. Cook, President

 

 

 

_______________________________________________

                                                             Ronald B. Spencer, Secretary

 

 

   Minutes were recorded by

         Virginia M. Harris

Executive Secretary to the Board.

         Wvbeminutes3/11/08