MINUTES
WEST VIRGINIA BOARD OF EDUCATION
Board Conference Room
Capitol Building 6, Room 353
1900 Kanawha Boulevard, East
Charleston, West Virginia
September 10, 2008
I. Call to Order
President Delores W. Cook called the meeting of the West Virginia Board of Education (WVBE) to order at 12:32 p.m. on September 10, 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 Jenny N. Phillips, Robert W. Dunlevy, Barbara N. Fish, Burma Hatfield, Lowell E. Johnson, Gayle C. Manchin, and Ronald B. Spencer, and ex officio Steven L. Paine, State Superintendent of Schools. Student representative in attendance was Isaac Picklesimer of Williamson who attends Williamson High School (Mingo County). Members absent were 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. Recognition ~ Paul J. Morris Character Educator of the Year
President Cook introduced Mrs. Yvonne Morris, widow of Mr. Paul J. Morris, and recognized Ms. Emily Patterson, school counselor at Piedmont Elementary School, Kanawha County Schools, as the recipient of the 2008 Paul J. Morris Character Educator of the Year Award.
III. Approval of Agenda
Upon motion by Ms. Hatfield, seconded by Mr. Dunlevy, Board unanimously approved the agenda.
IV. Eagle School Intermediate, Berkeley County
President Cook recognized Eagle School Intermediate, recipient of a 2008 Panasonic National School Change Award.
Mr. Richard Lawrence, Executive Director, West Virginia Department of Education (WVDE) Office of Title II – School and School System Improvement, introduced Ms. Margaret Kursey, principal, and Ms. Lorie Breeden, teacher, Eagle School Intermediate, who provided a brief overview of the school’s many successes. (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment A.)
V. West Virginia’s Mathematics and Science Alignment to TIMSS
Dr. Jan Barth, Executive Director, WVDE Office of Assessment and Accountability, introduced Dr. William H. Schmidt, University Distinguished Professor, Michigan State University, who provided an overview of analyses of West Virginia mathematics and science curricular objectives in effect as of July 2008. (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment B.)
VI. School Counseling/Career Development Update
Ms. Barbara Ashcraft (distributed information), Coordinator, WVDE Office of Planning, Evaluation, Special Programs and Support Services, provided an update regarding school counseling services and career development. (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment F.)
VII. Break
President Cook called for a break at 2:21 p.m.
VIII. Call to Order
President Cook called the meeting back to order at 2:41 p.m.
IX. Director’s Information
Dr. Kenna R. Seal, Director, Office of Education Performance Audits (OEPA), stated that OEPA items found on the September 11, 2008 Consent Agenda required correction at the motion and that the correction would be provided at the September 11 meeting for the Board’s consideration.
X. Follow-up Education Performance Audits
Dr. Seal presented schools recommended for Education Performance Audit reviews.
Upon recommendation of Dr. Seal and a motion by Dr. Johnson, seconded by Mrs. Fish, the Board unanimously approved Education Performance Audit reviews for the schools listed in the attachment. (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment C.)
XI. Update on the 21st Century Leadership Development
and Support Collaborative
Ms. Lydia McCue, WVDE contract employee, and Dr. Richard Hartnett, West Virginia University, provided an update regarding Phase I and tasks to be addressed in Phase II of the 21st Century Leadership Development and Support Collaborative. The Leadership Collaborative is a fifty member group of public education and higher education representatives assigned the task of (1) developing new 21st century leadership standards for superintendents, principals and teacher leaders and (2) designing preparation, professional development and support systems that will allow leaders to achieve these standards in West Virginia schools and school districts. President Cook, a co-chair of the collaborative, Dr. Johnson and Mrs. Fish serve as the Board’s representatives on the collaborative.
XII. 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. (Copy appended to the Official Minutes, Attachment D and to the Official Minutes of September 11, 2008 at Attachment M.)
XIII. Policy 2340, West Virginia Measures of Academic Progress
Dr. Barth presented Policy 2340 for the Board’s consideration. (Copy appended to the Official Minutes of September 11, 2008 at Attachment L.)
XIV. Alternate Performance Task Assessment (APTA)
2008 Recommended Cut Scores for Science Grades 4, 6 and 11
Dr. Barth presented the APTA 2008 recommended curt scores for science grades 4, 6 and 11 for the Board’s consideration. (Copy appended to the Official Minutes of September 11, 2008 at Attachment Mc.)
XV. SIMPLE - Science with Inquiry Modules and
Problem-based Learning Experiences
Ms. Carla Williamson, Executive Director, introduced Ms. Marty Burke (distributed information), Assistant Director, WVDE Office of Instruction, who presented an overview of SIMPLE, a kit-based learning program, for the Board’s information. SIMPLE is an initiative that represents the collaborative work of RESA 6 Handle of Science, the Delaware Science Coalition, WVDE and the June Harless STEM Center at Marshall University. The goal of this program is to train K-6 elementary teachers over the course of four years on content, assessment and pedagogy to deliver problem based learning and inquiry based lessons designed to develop creative elementary science students who will be critical thinkers and problem solvers with collaborative skills. (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment G.)
XVI. Executive Session
Selection of Schools and County School Systems
for Education Performance Audits and
WVBE Personnel Matters
President Cook requested a motion to move into Executive Session as provided in W. Va. Code §18-2E-5(m)(1), to discuss the selection of schools and county school systems for Education Performance Audits, W. Va. Code §6‑9A-3 (matters involving attorney-client privilege) and/or §6‑9A-4(b)(2)(A) (personnel exception). Upon motion by Mr. Spencer, seconded by Ms. Haden and unanimously carried, the Board entered into executive session at 3:40 p.m.
XVII. Return from Executive Session
The Board returned from Executive Session at 4:25 p.m. at which time President Cook announced that no action was taken and no decisions were made. President Cook called for motions from members. Mr. Spencer moved that the Board’s executive secretary receive a salary increase of four percent. Mrs. Fish seconded the motion and it was carried with eight members voting yes and one member abstaining. Upon motion by Dr. Johnson, seconded by Ms. Phillips, the Board unanimously approved the Board’s personnel items. Dr. Johnson moved that Mr. Roy Martin be employed as the interim Executive Director of Regional Education Service (RESA) Agency VIII at the beginning rate of pay of the lowest paid RESA Executive Director. Mr. Dunlevy seconded the motion and it was carried unanimously. (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment E.)
XVIII. Future Meetings
The next regular meeting of the Board will be held September 11, 2008 in Charleston, West Virginia.
XIX. Adjournment
Upon motion by Dr. Johnson, seconded by Ms. Haden and unanimously carried, the Board adjourned at 4:27 p.m.
Minutes approved by the Board on October 9, 2008.
_______________________________________________
Delores W. Cook, President
_______________________________________________
Jenny N. Phillips, Secretary
Minutes were recorded by
Virginia M. Harris
Secretary to the Board.
Wvbeminutes9/10/08