MINUTES 

WEST VIRGINIA BOARD OF EDUCATION 

Board Conference Room 

Capitol Building 6, Room 353 

1900 Kanawha Boulevard, East 

Charleston, West Virginia 

October 8, 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 October 8, 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, 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 Robert W. Dunlevy, 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.

 

        Following introductions President Cook read into the record the Learn and Serve Challenge Week Proclamation issued by the Honorable Governor Joe Manchin III.

 

Proclamation by Governor Joe Manchin III 

 

WHEREAS, the West Virginia Board of Education and Department of Education strongly believe that service-learning is a method of teaching and learning that combines academic work with service to the community, where students learn by doing through a clear application of skills and knowledge while helping to meet needs in the school and broader community; and,

 

WHEREAS, service-learning practice enhances the quality of life for thousands of West Virginia citizens; and,

 

WHEREAS, service-learning fosters civic engagement and brings people of all ages and diverse backgrounds together to meet common needs; and,

 

WHEREAS, Learn and Serve America supports and encourages service-learning throughout the United States and enables more than one million students to make meaningful contributions to their communities while building their academic and civic skills; and,

 

WHEREAS, October 6-12, 2008, has been designated nationally as a week to recognize and commend service-learning efforts throughout K-16 education; and,

 

WHEREAS, West Virginia’s teachers are recognized for their exemplary accomplishments engaging their students in rigorous and relevant learning through service to their communities; and,

 

WHEREAS, West Virginia’s young people should be viewed as the hope not only of the future, but also of today, and should be valued for the idealism, energy, creativity, and commitment they bring to meeting the needs of their communities;

 

NOW, THEREFORE, Be it Resolved that I, Joe Manchin, III, Governor of the Great State of West Virginia, do hereby proclaim October 6-12, 2008, as

 

LEARN AND SERVE CHALLENGE WEEK 

 

in the Mountain State and call upon the people of the State of West Virginia to engage in service-learning activities, promote the spirit of service-learning, and be devoted to the recognition of everyone who contributes to the civic and academic engagement of West Virginia’s young people.

 

It Witness Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Great Seal of the State of West Virginia to be affixed.

 

Done at the Capitol, City of Charleston, State of West Virginia this the First day of October, in the year of our Lord, Two Thousand Eight, and in the One Hundred Forty-six the year of the State.

 

                                                Joe Manchin III

                                                       Governor

 

                                        By the Governor:

 

                                                 Betty Ireland

                                                      Secretary of State

 

II.        Recognitions

        “How My Family Helps Me Learn”

        (21st Century After School Programs Postcard Contest Winners)

        Energy Star School

        Learn and Serve Challenge Week Proclamation

 

        President Cook provided brief remarks regarding the importance of parent involvement in schools and introduced Dr. Pamela S. Cain, Assistant State Superintendent, Division of Student Support Services.  Dr. Cain recognized Ms. Debbie Gurtis, President-elect of the West Virginia Parent‑Teacher Association and Ms. Deb Fritz, National Parent-Teacher Association, and introduced Dr. Doris Redfield and Ms. Anita Deck, Edvantia, Inc., who, along with President Cook, presented awards to the postcard contest winners:  Elementary Division ~ Mr. Cody Ramsey, Fairplain Elementary Patch 21st Century Learning Center, Jackson County; High School Division ~ Ms. Kim Poling, Grafton High School, Taylor County; Middle School Division ~ Ms. Emma Baker, Mountain View Elementary/Middle School, Monroe County; and Special Category Division ~ Ms. Brayleen Dowdy, Mountain View Elementary/Middle School, Monroe County.

 

        President Cook recognized Berlin McKinney Elementary, Herndon K-8, Mullens Middle School, Pineville Middle School, Westside High School and Wyoming East High School, all of Wyoming County, recipients of the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Energy Star label.  The schools earned the prestigious Energy Star label for their effort in creating some of the most energy efficient buildings in the nation.  Accepting the awards for the schools was Superintendent Frank L. Blackwell, and Mr. Terry N. Tilley, Energy Management Specialist, Wyoming County Schools.

       

III.        Approval of Agenda

 

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

 

IV.        Update for the Preston County School District

        and Kingwood Elementary School, Preston County Director’s Information

 

        Dr. Kenna R. Seal (distributed information), Director, Office of Education Performance Audits (OEPA), and Mr. John Lofink, Superintendent, Preston County Schools, provided an update regarding corrective action taken with regard to the on-site reviews conducted at the Preston County School District April 16 - 18, 2008 and Kingwood Elementary School April 8, 2008 during which several findings of noncompliances were identified.  (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment D.)

 

V.        West Virginia Schools for the Deaf and the Blind (WVSDB)

        2007‑08 Annual Report & Quarterly Report for July, August and September

 

        Dr. Patsy K. Shank (distributed information), Superintendent of the WVSDB, provided an overview of the 2007‑08 annual report and provided a quarterly report regarding school activities and initiatives.  Mrs. Fish joined the meeting.  (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment E.)

       

VI.        Status Report - Legislated Physical Education Program Implementation

 

        Mr. Don Chapman, Assistant Director, West Virginia Department of Education (WVDE) Office of Healthy Schools, provided a status report regarding the Healthy Lifestyles Bill (H.B. 2816) that places time requirements for physical education at the elementary and middle school level.  (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment A.)

 

VII.        Break

 

        President Cook called for a break at 2:07 p.m.  

 

VIII.        Call to Order

 

        President Cook called the meeting back to order at 2:21 p.m.

 

IX.        Pandemic Influenza Update

 

        Ms. Melanie B. Purkey, Director, WVDE Office of Healthy Schools, provided an update on the Department’s work regarding pandemic influenza preparedness in public schools.

 

X.        Evaluation of WVBE Professional Development Statewide Plan

 

        Dr. Karen K. Larry (distributed information), Executive Assistant to the State Superintendent, provided a brief history regarding the evaluation process and introduced Dr. Doris Redfield, and Mr. Joseph Holloway, Edvantia, Inc., who provided a brief overview of evaluation findings.  (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment B and addendum.)

       

XI.        Lexiles/Quantiles

 

Ms. Carla Williamson, Executive Director, and Ms. Lou Maynus, Coordinator, WVDE Office of Instruction, presented information regarding lexile and quantile measures (scientific approaches to measuring difficulty and ability).  (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment C.)

 

XII.        Hill Day 2008

 

        Mr. David M. Alfred (distributed information), State Team Leader for National Board of Professional Teaching Standards, Chair of the Professional Practice Panel for the West Virginia Commission for Professional Teacher Standards, and Teacher, Triadelphia Middle School, presented an update regarding discussions with members of congress regarding support for  National Board Certification for teachers.  (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment F.)

 

XIII.        Future Meetings

       

        The next regular meeting of the Board will be held October 9, 2008 in Charleston, West Virginia.  

 

 

 

 

XIV.        Adjournment

 

        Upon motion by Dr. Johnson, seconded by Ms. Haden and unanimously carried, the Board adjourned at 3:48 p.m.

 

                                           Minutes approved by the Board on November 12, 2008.

 

 

 

___________________________

Delores W. Cook, President

 

 

 

___________________________ 

Jenny N. Phillips, Secretary

 

 

   Minutes were recorded by

         Virginia M. Harris

       Secretary to the Board.

        Wvbeminutes10/8/08