MINUTES

WEST VIRGINIA BOARD OF EDUCATION

Doddridge County High School Auditorium

1 Bulldog Drive

West Union, West Virginia

May 14, 2008

 

 

 

I. Call to Order

 

President Delores W. Cook called the meeting of the West Virginia Board of Education (WVBE) to order at 1:08 p.m. on May 14, 2008, in the auditorium of Doddridge County High School, #1 Bulldog Drive, West Union, 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, 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 Stephen Stolzenberg of Morgantown who attends Morgantown High School. Members absent were Gayle C. Manchin and ex officio Brian E. Noland, Chancellor, West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission.

 

II. Welcome

 

Mrs. Janice Michels, Superintendent of Doddridge County Schools, welcomed the Board and introduced Doddridge County board members, county staff, principals and other guests.

 

III. Approval of Agenda

 

Upon motion by Mr. Dunlevy, seconded by Ms. Phillips, the Board unanimously approved the agenda.

 

IV. WVBE Evaluation Committee Update

 

Ms. Phillips provided an update on behalf of the committee and answered questions regarding the forms and process. Ms. Haden moved, and Dr. Johnson seconded, that the report be accepted. The motion was carried unanimously.

 

V. 2008 Global Education Summit on Math and Science

 

Superintendent Paine provided an overview of his participation in the 2008 Global Education Summit on Math and Science.

 

VI. Draft Individual school Education Performance Audit Report for

Liberty High School, Harrison County

 

Dr. Kenna R. Seal, Director, Office of Education Performance Audits (OEPA), reported that an announced on-site review was conducted at Liberty High School on March 12, 2008.

 

Upon the recommendation of Dr. Seal and a motion by Ms. Phillips, seconded by Mr. Dunlevy, the Board unanimously issued Liberty High School Full Accreditation status and gave the school and county until the next accreditation cycle to correct the deficiency noted in the report. (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment A.)

 

VII. Draft Education Performance Audit Reports for

the Randolph County Central Office, Elkins Middle School,

and Tygarts Valley Middle/High School and Curriculum Audits at

Harman Elementary/High School, Pickens Elementary/High School,

Elkins High School, and Randolph Technical Center, Randolph County

 

Dr. Seal reported that announced on-site reviews were conducted at the Randolph County Central Office and Elkins Middle School on February 25 ‑ 28, 2008 and at Tygarts Valley Middle/High School on April 3, 2008. Curriculum audits were conducted at Harman Elementary/High School, Pickens Elementary/High School, Elkins High School, and Randolph Technical Center on April 3, 2008. Ms. Susan Hinzman, Superintendent of Randolph County Schools, addressed questions regarding report findings.

 

Following discussion, Dr. Johnson moved, and Mr. Dunlevy seconded, that Non‑approval Accreditation status be issued to Randolph County Schools and that Superintendent Paine take a team into the county to provide assist to the county in correcting problems found in the OEPA reports. Upon further discussion, Dr. Johnson withdrew his motion, and Mr. Dunlevy withdrew his second. Dr. Johnson then moved, and Mr. Dunlevy seconded, that Superintendent Paine meet with county office staff and local board members regarding the OEPA report and provide a progress report within three months. Ms. Phillips requested that the report include a facet regarding the upkeep of all school facilities. The motion was carried unanimously.

 

Ms. Haden moved that the issuance of approval/accreditation status be withheld until the report compiled by Superintendent Paine is given. Ms. Phillips seconded the motion and it was carried unanimously. Dr. Seal provided information regarding Elkins Middle School findings. (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment B.)

VIII. Draft Individual School Education Performance Audit Report for

Grafton High School, Taylor County

 

Dr. Seal reported that an announced on-site review as conducted at Grafton High School on March 11, 2008.

 

Upon the recommendation of Dr. Seal and a motion by Ms. Phillips, seconded by Ms. Hatfield, the Board unanimously issued Grafton High School Full Accreditation status and gave the school and county until the next accreditation cycle to correct the deficiencies noted in the report. (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment C.)

 

IX. Draft Individual School Education Performance Audit Report for

Buckhannon-Upshur High School, Upshur County

 

Dr. Seal reported that an announced on-site review as conducted at Buckhannon-Upshur High School on April 2, 2008.

 

Upon the recommendation of Dr. Seal and a motion by Mr. Spencer, seconded by Ms. Hatfield, the Board unanimously issued Buckhannon-Upshur High School Full Accreditation status and gave the school and county until the next accreditation cycle to correct the deficiencies noted in the report.  (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment D.)

 

X. Break

 

President Cook called for a break at 3:12 p.m.

 

XI. Call to Order

 

President Cook called the meeting back to order at 3:34 p.m.

 

XII. Pilot Individual School Education Performance Audit

Draft Report for Pressley Ridge School @ White Oak Village

Located in Wood County

 

Dr. Seal reported that a pilot on-site review was conducted at Pressley Ridge School @ White Oak Village on March 19, 2008. The review was conducted at the specific direction of the WVBE and will be used to refine and develop the auditing system for institutional schools. Mr. Jacob Green, Assistant Director, WVDE Office of Institutional Education Programs, addressed questions regarding audit findings. (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment E.)

 

XIII. Report on Webster County High School's Progress on

Addressing OEPA Audit Findings

 

Dr. Stanley Hopkins, Assistant State Superintendent, Division of Technical and Adult Education Services, provided a progress report on Webster County High School's efforts to address the OEPA audit findings resulting from an on-site visit on December 11, 2007. (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment F.)

 

XIV. Report on Instructional Materials Depository

 

Dr. Jorea Marple, Assistant State Superintendent, Division of Curriculum and Instructional Services, introduced Mr. Gib Brown, The James & Law Company, who presented the annual report of the Instructional Materials Depository. In October 1992, the WVBE awarded The James & Law Company of Clarksburg, West Virginia, the right to operate as the State Instructional Materials Depository as provided in W. Va. Code §18‑2A-7. As a provision of that agreement, the WVBE requested The James & Law Company submit an Annual Report of activities as related to Instructional Materials adopted by West Virginia public schools. (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment G.)

XV. West Virginia Secondary School Activities Commission (WVSSAC)

Series 1, 2, and 3

 

Mr. Gary Ray, Executive Director, WVSSAC, presented proposed rule changes for the Board's consideration. It was the consensus of the Board that the WVSSAC investigate attendance at private and parochial member schools to verify that the schools are properly classified. (Copy appended to the Official Minutes of May 15, 2008 at Attachment I.)

 

XVI.Policy 2436.10, Participation in Extracurricular Activities

 

Ms. Heather L. Deskins, General Counsel to the WVBE and the West Virginia Department of Education (WVDE), presented Policy 2436.10 for the Board's consideration. (Copy appended to the Official Minutes, Attachment H and to the Official Minutes of May 15, 2008 at Attachment H.)

 

XVII.Policy 2520.16, Alternative Academic Achievement Standards

for West Virginia Schools

 

Dr. Lynn Boyer, WVDE Office of Special Programs, Extended and Early Learning, presented Policy 2520.16 for the Board's consideration. (Copy appended to the Official Minutes of May 15, 2008 at Attachment K.)

 

XVIII. Policy 2520.19, 21st Century Advisor/Advisee 9-12

Content Standards and Objectives for West Virginia Schools

 

Ms. Barbara Ashcraft, Coordinator, WVDE Office of Planning, Evaluation, Special Programs and Support Services, presented Policy 2520.19 for the Board's consideration. Dr. Hopkins addressed questions regarding previous school counseling initiatives. (Copy appended to the Official Minutes of May 15, 2008 at Attachment L.)

 

XIX. Policy 4336, West Virginia School Bus Transportation

Policy and Procedures Manual

 

Mr. Ben Shew, Executive Director, WVDE Office of School Transportation, presented Policy 4336 for the Board's consideration. Ms. Rebecca King, Coordinator, WVDE Office of Healthy Schools, addressed a question regarding a new facet of the policy pertaining to bus operators who require insulin and associated safety concerns. Ms. Phillips requested a future agenda item to discuss efficient use of school buses by the general public. President Cook requested that future policy revision committees include in its membership at least one member of the WVBE. (Copy appended to the Official Minutes of May 15, 2008 at Attachment M.)

Chancellor Skidmore addressed the Board regarding recent funding provided for advanced technology centers that will align with career technology students and regular education students and indicated that updates will be provided as events warrant.

XX. 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. Phillips, seconded by Ms. Hatfield, and unanimously carried, the Board entered into Executive Session at 5:50 p.m.

 

XXI. Return from Executive Session

 

The Board returned from Executive Session at 6:08 p.m. at which time President Cook announced that no action was taken and no decisions were made.

 

XXII. Future Meetings

The next regular meeting of the Board will be held May 15, 2008 in Doddridge County, West Virginia.

 

XXIII. Adjournment

 

Upon motion by Dr. Johnson, seconded by Ms. Hatfield and unanimously carried, the Board adjourned at 6:10 p.m.

Minutes approved by the Board on June 5, 2008.

 

 

 

_______________________________________________

Delores W. Cook, President

 

 

 

_______________________________________________

Ronald B. Spencer, Secretary

 

 

Minutes were recorded by

Virginia M. Harris

Executive Secretary to the Board.

Wvbeminutes5/14/08