MINUTES

WEST VIRGINIA BOARD OF EDUCATION

Board Conference Room

Capitol Building 6, Room 353

1900 Kanawha Boulevard, East

Charleston, West Virginia

July 9, 2008

 

 

 

I.                                                                      Call to Order

 

            President Delores W. Cook called the meeting of the West Virginia Board of Education (WVBE) to order at 12:34 p.m. on July 9, 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.  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

 

            Upon motion by Mr. Dunlevy, seconded by Dr. Johnson, Board unanimously approved the agenda.

 

III.                                                WV VITAL Survey Interim Report

 

            Dr. Karen K. Larry, Executive Assistant to the State Superintendent, introduced Mr. Eric Hirsch (distributed PowerPoint presentation), New Teacher Center at the University of California at Santa Cruz.  The New Teacher Center is the organization that was contracted to conduct the survey and provide a series of reports. The WVBE conducted a statewide online survey of all professional educators to determine their perceptions of teaching and learning conditions in their schools.  Mr. Hirsch provided a follow-up to his previous report and stated that a final report will be presented at a future date.  It was the consensus of the Board that this initiative moves forward.  (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment H.)

 

IV.                 Office of Education Performance Audits (OEPA) Director’s Information

 

            Dr. Kenna R. Seal, Director, OEPA, provided an update regarding Randolph County and indicated that a plan action has been received and reviewed.  Dr. Johnson requested that the plan be provided to WVBE members.  Ms. Haden requested that an item be placed on the August agenda pertaining to Randolph County.

 

V.                                      Draft Education Performance Audit Reports for

                                               Winchester Avenue Elementary School and

                                          Martinsburg North Middle School, Berkeley County

 

            Dr. Seal reported that announced on-site reviews were conducted at Winchester Avenue Elementary School April 29, 2008 and Martinsburg North Middle School May 20, 2008.

 

            Discussion ensued regarding the accreditation process as set forth in W. Va. Code and WVBE policy and as required by the No Child Left Behind Act.  Ms. Haden recommended that a committee be formed to address concerns regarding the accreditation process.  President Cook directed Superintendent Paine and Dr. Seal to bring recommendations to the Board at a future meeting to address concerns regarding the accreditation process.  Dr. Johnson requested that the Superintendent of Berkeley County Schools be invited to a meeting to address concerns issued with regard to Winchester Avenue Elementary School and Martinsburg North Middle School.

 

            Ms. Hatfield moved, and Mr. Spencer seconded, that Winchester Avenue Elementary School and Martinsburg North Middle School be issued Full Accreditation status, that the Approval status of the Berkeley County School System be continued, and that the schools and county be given until the next accreditation cycle to correct deficiencies noted in the report.  Upon the call for the question the motion was defeated with four members voting yes and four members voting no.  (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment A.) 

 

VI.                                 Pilot Individual School Education Performance Audit

                                                      Draft Report for Burlington Center

                         (Juvenile Institutional Education Program) located in Mineral County

 

            Dr. Seal reported that a pilot on-site review was conducted at Burlington Center on May 7, 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.    (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment B.)

 

VII.                                                                        Break

 

            President Cook called for a break at 2:04 p.m. 

 

VIII.                                                                Call to Order

 

            President Cook called the meeting back to order at 2:14 p.m. and, with the consensus of the Board, moved agenda item XIV.  West Virginia Secondary School Activities Commission Series 1, 2, and 3 to immediately follow the Fayette County Update.

 

IX.                                             Fayette County Update – Plan of Action

 

            Mr. Chuck Heinlein, CAG Liaison, Office of Title II - School and School System Improvement, and Dr. Serena Starcher, Associate Superintendent, Fayette County Schools, presented an update and plan of action for Fayette County.   (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment C.)

 

X.                       West Virginia Secondary School Activities Commission (WVSSAC)

                                                                      Series 1, 2, and 3

 

            Mr. Gary Ray, Executive Director, WVSSAC, presented Series 1, 2 and 3 for the Board’s consideration.  Following discussion, Dr. Johnson requested that Series 1, 2 and 3 be considered separately, requiring three actions, at the Thursday meeting.  (Copy appended to Official Minutes of July 10, 2008 at Attachment S.)

 

XI.                          New Assessment Implementation Advisory Committee Update

 

            Dr. Jan Barth, Executive Director, WVDE Office of Assessment/Accountability, and Ms. Sue McGuire, Coordinator of Assessment, Ohio County Schools, presented a report which contained a review of the work conducted by the advisory committee over the past six months beginning in October 2007 and continuing through May 2008.  The report was presented in four sections:  Purpose, Background, Committee Recommendations and Action.  Specifically, recommendations were provided regarding WESTEST 2 Online Writing, WESTEST 2, Benchmark Assessments and other implementation recommendations, such as the use of webinars and the 21st Century Assessment Monthly Communication Update. (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment D.)

 

XII.                                             Implementation and Evaluation of the

                                           Alternative Identification and Reporting Project

 

            Dr. Lynn Boyer, Executive Director, WVDE Office of Special Programs, Extended and Early Learning, presented a report regarding the implementation and evaluation of an Alternative Identification and Reporting (AIR) project in 15 schools for three years beginning school year 2008–09.  This project is being conducted in conjunction, and by agreement, with the federal Office of Special Education Programs and the federally funded Mid South Regional Resource Center.  It will explore the results for students, teachers and families of identifying students for IEP services without assigning a label of learning disabled, emotional/behavioral disordered, (mildly) mentally impaired, other health impaired or orthopedically impaired.

 

XIII.                                   Appointments to the West Virginia Commission

                                           for Professional Teaching Standards (WVCPTS)

 

            Mr. Nathan Estel, Executive Director, WVDE Office of Professional Preparation, presented Mr. Mickey Blackwell, secondary principal, Ms. Tammy McKnight, a middle school teacher, Dr. Lynn Rupp, a faculty member from an independent college, for appointment to the WVCPTS, and recommended that Mrs. Barbara Fish and Mr. David Alfred be reappointed to a second term. 

 

            Upon motion by Dr. Johnson, seconded by Ms. Phillips, the Board unanimously appointed Mr. Mickey Blackwell, Ms. Tammy McKnight, and Dr. Lynn Rupp, and reappointed Mrs. Barbara Fish and Mr. David Alfred to the WVCPTS.  (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment E.)

 

XIV.            Approval of Educator Preparation Programs at Appalachian Bible College

 

            Mr. Estel reported that an on-site review of the educator preparation program at Appalachian Bible College was conducted.  The Educator Preparation Program Review Board (EPPRB) reviewed the report from the on-site review team and the response from the institution.  Upon review, the EPPRB agreed that the standards identified in Policy 5100 were met.  Although several areas for improvement were identified, significant progress had been made in meeting the standards from when the program was last reviewed in the fall of 2006.  

 

            Upon motion by Dr. Johnson, seconded by Ms. Haden, the Board unanimously granted continuing approval status to educator preparation programs at Appalachian Bible College for a period not to exceed seven years.  (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment F.)

 

XV.                 Approval of Educator Preparation Programs at Ohio Valley University

 

            Mr. Estel reported that an on-site review of the educator preparation programs at Ohio Valley University was conducted.  The EPPRB reviewed the report from the on-site review team and the response from the institution.  Upon review, the EPPRB agreed that the standards identified in Policy 5100 were not entirely met, although significant improvements had been made since the program was last reviewed in 2006.

 

            Upon motion by Dr. Johnson, seconded by Mr. Dunlevy, the Board unanimously granted conditional approval status of educator preparation programs at Ohio Valley University for a period not to exceed 18 months.  Further, to determine that Ohio Valley University continues to make progress toward meeting all six (6) standards, the Board requested a progress report from Ohio Valley University every six months, and directed that the WVDE conduct a follow-up visit within 12 months, with a progress report to the Board, and a full on-site review be conducted within 18 months.  Discussion ensued regarding consistency of reporting requirements for colleges/universities that do not meet standards and it was requested that an item be placed on the August agenda to address this matter.  (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment G.)

 

XVI.                              Increase of Fee for Processing Requests for Licensure

                                             to Work in the Public Schools of West Virginia

 

            Mr. Estel presented, for the Board’s consideration, a proposed fee increase for processing requests for licensure to work in the public schools of West Virginia.  (Copy appended to Official Minutes of July 10, 2008 at Attachment J.)

 

XVII.                      Policy 2520.16, Alternative Academic Achievement Standards

                                                              for West Virginia Schools

 

            Dr. Boyer presented Policy 2520.16 for the Board’s consideration.  (Copy appended to Official Minutes of July 10, 2008 at Attachment I.)

XVIII.                                          WVBE Strategic Plan for 2008-2009

 

            President Cook appointed a Board committee, consisting of Dr. Johnson, Chair, Ms. Haden and Ms. Phillips, to work with Dr. Larry to review the strategic plan for presentation at the August meeting.

 

XIX.                                                             Executive Session

 

President Cook requested a motion to move into Executive Session as provided in W. Va. Code W. Va. Code §6-9A-3 (matters involving attorney-client privilege) and/or §6‑9A‑4(b)(2)(A) (personnel exception).  Upon motion by Dr. Johnson, seconded by Mr. Dunlevy and unanimously carried, the Board entered into executive session at 3:33 p.m.

 

XX.                                                   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.

 

XXI.                                                              Future Meetings

           

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

 

XXII.                                                               Adjournment

 

            Upon motion by Dr. Johnson, seconded by Ms. Phillips and unanimously carried, the Board adjourned at 4:36 p.m.

 

                                                            Minutes approved by the Board on August 14, 2008.

 

 

 

                                                            _______________________________________________

                                                            Delores W. Cook, President

 

 

 

_______________________________________________

                                                             Jenny N. Phillips, Secretary

 

 

   Minutes were recorded by

         Virginia M. Harris

Executive Secretary to the Board.

         wvbeminutes7/9/08