MINUTES
WEST VIRGINIA BOARD OF EDUCATION
Board Conference Room
Capitol Building 6, Room 353
1900 Kanawha Boulevard, East
Charleston, West Virginia
March 12, 2008

 

 

I.                                                                      Call to Order

 

            President Delores W. Cook called the meeting of the West Virginia Board of Education (WVBE) to order at 9:00 a.m. on March 12, 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 officio Steven L. Paine, State Superintendent of Schools.  Student representative in attendance was Stephen Stolzenberg of Morgantown who attends Morgantown High School.  Members absent were Barbara N. Fish 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.                                                               Approval of Agenda

 

              President Cook requested that Consent Agenda item 8.  Policy 2515, Uniform Grading,                          be removed from the Consent Agenda for discussion.  Upon motion by Dr. Johnson, seconded by   Ms. Phillips, the Board unanimously approved the agenda as amended with Policy 2515 to be taken up as the first item of business under New Business.

 

III.                                                                 Consent Agenda

 

            Upon motion by Ms. Phillips, seconded by Dr. Johnson, the Board unanimously approved the Consent Agenda as previously amended.  (Copies appended to Official Minutes, Attachments A through H and J through P.)

 

·         Meeting minutes of February 13 and 14, 2008  (Attachment A)

 

·         Budget supplement and transfer requests for the month of February 2008 as follows:   total supplements = $55,046,344 and total transfers = $51,007,583 (Attachment B)

 

·         Amendment to the Logan County Comprehensive Educational Facilities Plan to include the closure of Crooked Creek School for Exceptional Children effective June 30, 2008 with students from Crooked Creek School to be enrolled into Logan High School, Logan Middle School and Logan Elementary School  (Attachment C)

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

 

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

 

·         Twelve applications for a total of 1,431 applications for Operation Recognition in connection with Policy 4355:  High School Diplomas for Veterans  (Attachment F)

 

·         Policy 2200, Parent, Family and Community Involvement in Education, effective July 1, 2008  (Attachment G)

 

·         Policy 2444.4, Issuance of the State of West Virginia General Educational Development (GED®) Diploma Based Upon Passage of the GED Tests effective July 1, 2008  (Attachment H)

 

·         Policy 2520.35, 21st Century Science 9-12 Content Standards and Objectives for West Virginia Schools effective July 1, 2008  (Attachment J)

 

·         Policy 2510, Assuring the Quality of Education:  Regulations for Education Programs at Section 1. General and Section 5. Program Definition for placement on public comment for 30 days  (Attachment K)

 

·         West Virginia Assessment Calendar with a WESTEST date that falls before May 15  (Attachment L)

 

·         West Virginia Annual Application Under Part B of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) as Amended in 2004 for Federal Fiscal Year 2008 for posting on the WVDE website no later than March 17, 2008 and to accept public comments from March 23, 2008 through April 23, 2008  (Attachment M)

 

·         The accreditation status as listed in the individual school report for Anne Bailey Elementary School, Cedar Grove Elementary School, Cedar Grove Middle School (formerly Cedar Grove Community School), Chandler Elementary School, Glenwood Elementary School, and J.E. Robins Elementary School, and continued the Full Approval status of the Kanawha County School System  (Attachment Mc)

 

·         The accreditation status as listed in the individual school report for Alum Bridge Elementary School and continued the Full Approval status of the Lewis County School System  (Attachment N)

 

·         The accreditation status as listed in the individual school report for Glenwood School and continued the Full Approval status of the Mercer County School System  (Attachment O)

 

·         County Plans to Eliminate Financial Deficits for the Hancock County, Hardy County, Pendleton County, and Taylor County School Systems  (Attachment P).

 

IV.                                                                        Reports

 

            Board Member/Committee Reports.  Mrs. Manchin, Ms. Haden, Dr. Johnson, (distributed information and requested a presentation regarding Globaloria at a future meeting), President Cook, and Mr. Spencer provided information regarding their participation in a number of meetings and events.  (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment X.)

             

            State Superintendent’s Report.  Superintendent Paine presented Department personnel actions for the Board’s information, provided updates and answered questions with regard to Lincoln, McDowell and Mingo Counties, participation in a number of meetings and events as  well as a future trip to Beijing, China (trip expenses will be at no cost to the state), recently completed legislative session, and, with the assistance of Dr. Karen Larry, Executive Assistant to the Superintendent, and Ms. Liza Cordeiro, Executive Director, WVDE Office of Communications, provided an overview of the recently completed Superintendent’s 21st Century Learning Student Forums.  Dr. Larry also provided a status report regarding the West Virginia Vision for Improving Teaching and Learning (VITAL) Survey during which the Board, by consensus, extended the survey through March 24, 2008. Dr. Jorea Marple, Assistant State Superintendent, Division of Curriculum and Instructional Services, provided a report regarding two events that she attended on March 10 and 11, 2008 in Washington, D.C. at which West Virginia was lauded for its leadership in education.  (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment Q.)

 

            School Counseling Update.  Ms. Barbara Ashcraft (distributed information), Coordinator, WVDE Office of Planning, Evaluation, Special Programs and Support Services, provided an update regarding school counseling services.  Mrs. Manchin requested that Chancellor Noland be requested to provide a presentation regarding the West Virginia Foundation.  (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment Y.)

 

V.                                                                           Break

 

            President Cook called for a break at 10:40 a.m. 

 

VI.                                                                   Call to Order

 

            President Cook called the meeting back to order at 10:55 a.m. and requested that the item dealing with Policy 2515 be moved to the end of the agenda.  By consensus of the Board the item was moved to the end of the agenda.

 

 

 

VII.                 Nominations for 2009 National Association of State Board of Education

(NASBE) Board of Directors

 

            President Cook requested nominations to the 2009 NASBE Board of Directors.

 

            Mr. Spencer moved, and Ms Haden seconded, that Dr. Johnson be nominated to the 2009 NASBE Board of Directors.  The motion was carried unanimously.  President Cook also requested nominations for the Friend of Education award; no nominations were offered.  (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment R.)

 

VIII.                                          Principal Leadership Academy Waivers

 

            Dr. Larry presented the procedures used to process waiver requests to attendance of the Center for Professional Development’s (CPD) Principals Academy and reported that staff of both the WVDE and the CPD have met to discuss this issue.  The attachment reflects background information, the current procedures and suggestions for revisions.  Concern was issued with regard to the Board approving waivers after the fact.  Dr. Johnson requested that, as much as possible, that as soon as waiver is granted that the Board be so advised. 

 

            Dr. Johnson moved that the procedure outlined in the attachment be approved.  Ms. Phillips seconded the motion and it was carried unanimously.  (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment S.)

 

IX.                                  Appointment to the West Virginia Secondary School

            Activities Commission (WVSSAC) Review Board

 

            Dr. Jack McClanahan, Deputy State Superintendent of Schools, reported that a vacancy has occurred on the WVSSAC’s Review Board and in accordance with WVSSAC Series 1, Constitution, section 127‑1‑13.1.1, the State Superintendent recommended that Mr. Larry Gillespie, Superintendent of Clay County Schools, be appointed to the WVSSAC Review Board.

 

            Upon motion by Mr. Spencer, seconded by Mr. Dunlevy, the Board unanimously appointed Mr. Gillespie to the WVSSAC Review Board.  (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment T.)

 

X.                                    Request to Approve Cell Tower Lease by RESA III

 

            Ms. Heather L. Deskins, General Counsel to the Board and the Department, reported that RESA III proposes to lease a portion of its property to Verizon for a cell tower; RESA III’s regional council has reviewed and approved the lease.

 

            Upon motion by Dr. Johnson, seconded by Mrs. Manchin, the Board unanimously approved the lease of a portion of RESA III’s property to Verizon for a cell tower.  (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment U.)

 

XI.                                                        WVBE Personnel Matters

 

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

XII.                                                    Policy 2515, Uniform Grading

 

            Ms. Deskins provided clarification regarding policy language and possible effects if students are required to take an exam for AP courses in order to receive the weighted grade and the timeline for application of the weighted grade.

 

            Upon motion by Dr. Johnson, seconded by Mr. Spencer and unanimously carried, the Board delayed action on this item and directed that it be placed on the April 2008 agenda.  (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment I.)

 

XIII.                                           Board Items for Future Consideration

           

            President Cook requested that members wishing items to be considered for placement on a future agenda to be provided to her, Superintendent Paine or Dr. McClanahan as soon as possible.  (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment W.)

 

XIV.                                                              Future Meetings

 

            The Board’s Communications Committee will meet on April 7, 2008 in Charleston, West Virginia.  The next regular meeting of the Board will be held April 9-10, 2008 in Boone County, West Virginia. 

                                                                                   

XV.                                                                  Adjournment

 

            Upon motion by Mrs. Manchin, seconded by Ms. Phillips and unanimously carried, the Board adjourned at 11:28 a.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.

         Wvbeminutes3/12/08