MINUTES 

WEST VIRGINIA BOARD OF EDUCATION 

Board Conference Room 

Capitol Building 6, Room 353 

1900 Kanawha Boulevard, East 

Charleston, West Virginia 

October 9, 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 October 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 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.

II.        Recognitions ~ Blue Ribbons Schools and Goodwill Games

        President Cook recognized Ms. MaKenzie White, freshman at Scott High School in Boone County, who has been selected to participate as a member of the USA Athletes International Basketball Team that will compete at the Goodwill Games in Argentina next year.

        President Cook, along with Mr. Edward J. W. Cashman, Regional Representative, U. S. Department of Education, recognized Williamstown Elementary (Wood County), Ravenswood Middle School (Jackson County) and John Marshall High School (Marshall County), as 2008 No Child Left Behind Blue Ribbon Schools.  

III.        Approval of Agenda

        Upon motion by Dr. Johnson, seconded by Mrs. Manchin, the Board unanimously approved the agenda.

IV.        Consent Agenda

        Ms. Haden requested that Consent Agenda item #18. Training Manual and Handbook for Education Performance Audits be removed from the Consent Agenda for discussion and action to immediately follow approval of the Consent Agenda.  Upon motion by Dr. Johnson, seconded by Ms. Phillips, the Board unanimously approved the Consent Agenda as amended.  (Copies appended to Official Minutes, Attachments A through Q.)

• Meeting minutes of September 10 and 11, 2008  (Attachment A)

• Budget supplement and transfer requests for the month of September 2008 as follows:  total supplements = $35,371,082 and total transfers = $18,175,197 (Attachment B)

• Amendment to the Boone County Comprehensive Educational Facilities Plan to include new portable classrooms at Madison Middle School.  The new portable unit will consist of four classrooms.  All federal, state and local regulation requirements will be met  (Attachment C)

• Amendment to the Hancock County Comprehensive Educational Facilities Plan to include replacement of the HVAC equipment and controls at the John D. Rockefeller IV Career Center  (Attachment D)

• Amendment to the Jackson County Comprehensive Educational Facilities Plan to include renovations of an existing regular classroom at Ravenswood High School to create an updated science laboratory for hands-on science activities and an addition of two fully equipped updated science laboratories at Ripley High School and  an addition of four classrooms and a set of public restrooms at Evans Elementary School so that two portable buildings containing four classrooms and restrooms may be removed from school grounds  (Attachment E)

• Amendment to the Marshall County Comprehensive Educational Facilities Plan to include the construction of a new school to replace Cameron JH/HS presently serving grades 7-12  (Attachment F)

• Amendment to the Monroe County Comprehensive Educational Facilities Plan to include replacement of Peterstown Middle School with a new 5-8 facility in the Peterstown vicinity, enclosing the exterior buildings at Peterstown Elementary; the replacement of modular facilities at Peterstown Elementary; and, the construction of a fieldhouse at Peterstown Middle School  (Attachment G)

• Amendment to the Wayne County Comprehensive Educational Facilities Plan to include to include the construction of a new Pre-K through 5th grade school for Fort Gay Elementary and the construction of two additional classrooms at Buffalo Middle School  (Attachment H)

• Amendment to the Wetzel County Comprehensive Educational Facilities Plan to include the upgrade and replacement of the existing HVAC at Long Drain School and New Martinsville School  (Attachment I)

• Amendment to the Wood County Comprehensive Educational Facilities Plan to include a major addition to link all instructional facilities at Parkersburg High School in order to dynamically improve the health and safety of the students and staff  (Attachment J)

• One continuation waiver of instructional materials and five new requests for waivers of instructional materials  (Attachment K)

• One request for a total attendance waiver and two waiver requests for a one year time extension to complete required professional development as required by the West Virginia Principal Leadership Academy for Experienced Principals and (Attachment L)

• Employment of Substitute Teachers in Areas of Critical Need policy for Hampshire County Schools  (Attachment M)

• Notifications, per Senate Bill 227, W. Va. Code §18A-4-7a, Transfer of Teachers After Five Days Prior to Starting Instruction, from Doddridge, Hancock, Harrison and Wood County Schools  (Attachment Mc)

• 2009 State Administrative Expense Plan for Child Nutrition  (Attachment N)

• Teacher preparation programs for West Virginia University-Parkersburg in Early Education (PK-K) and West Virginia Wesleyan College in Early Education (PK-K)  (Attachment O)

• The appointment of Mr. Edward Delaney, teacher at Clay Battelle High School, to the West Virginia Commission for Professional Teaching Standards  (Attachment P)

• Continued the previous accreditation status of Jefferson High School until the 2008 performance data are analyzed and the 2008 Report of Ratings is approved  (Attachment Q).

V.        Training Manual and Handbook for Education Performance Audits

        Dr. Kenna R. Seal, Director, Office of Education Performance Audits, addressed questions posed by Ms. Haden and Dr. Johnson regarding the training manual and handbook.  The Training Manual and Handbook for Education Performance Audits was updated to reflect the revisions in Policy 2320 and other WVBE policies, W. Va. Code, and current WVBE and WVDE initiatives.

        Upon motion by Dr. Johnson, seconded by Ms. Haden, the Board unanimously approved the Training Manual and Handbook for Education Performance Audits.  (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment R.)

VI.        Reports

        Board Member/Committee Reports.  Mrs. Manchin, Ms. Haden (distributed information) requested additional information be provided regarding WebTop, West Virginia’s K-12 Education Portal (http://wvde.k12.wv.us/) to 21st century online tools that the WVDE provides for educators, President Cook, Mrs. Fish, and Dr. Johnson provided information regarding their participation in a number of meetings and events.  (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment V.)

VII.        Break

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

VIII.        Call to Order

        President Cook called the meeting back to order at 10:20 a.m.

IX.        Reports (Continued)

                Board Member/Committee Reports.  Ms. Phillips introduced Dr. Pamela S. Cain, Assistant State Superintendent, WVDE Division of Student Support Services, who provided an update regarding the work of the Out-of-Home Care Task Force.

        State Superintendent’s Report.  Superintendent Paine (distributed information) presented Department personnel actions for the Board’s information and introduced Mr. Rick Snuffer, President of the West Virginia School Boards Association (WVSBA), and President of the Raleigh County Board of Education, who addressed the Board regarding concerns of WVSBA members.  Superintendent Paine also provided reports regarding a number of priority issues and initiatives and asked Mr. Picklesimer to provide his insight regarding items presented during the meeting.  Following the report it was requested that a report be provided at a future meeting regarding the partnership with the college and university system in teacher preparation programs.  Upon motion by Mrs. Manchin, seconded by Ms. Phillips, the Board unanimously accepted the State Superintendent’s report.   (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment S and addendum.)

        Regional Education Service Agency (RESA) Report.  Dr. Dee Cockrille, Executive Director of RESA II, provided an update regarding RESA II activities and initiatives.

X.        WVBE Personnel Matters

Superintendent Paine distributed an addendum to the personnel schedule for the Board’s consideration and President Cook and Dr. Johnson provided information regarding the interviews conducted for the position of Executive Director of Regional Education Service Agency VIII.  Following discussion, Dr. Johnson moved, and Ms. Phillips seconded, that the personnel schedule and addendum be approved.  The motion was carried unanimously.  (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment T and addendum.)

XI.        Board Items for Future Consideration

        President Cook distributed the agenda for the Board’s professional development/training event to be held October 22 and 23 at the Heritage Farm Museum and Village in Huntington and requested that items mentioned during the meeting, as well as any others that members wish to be considered for placement on a future agenda, be provided to Dr. McClanahan as soon as possible.  It was also requested that items for consideration for placement on the agenda for the meeting with the RESA Executive Directors on November 12 be provided to Dr. McClanahan.  Dr. Johnson requested that RESA legislative requests/concerns be a part of the November 12 RESA agenda.  (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment U and addendum.)

XII.        Special Recognition ~ Ronald B. Spencer

                President Cook recognized Mr. Spencer for his exemplary service to the children and the State of West Virginia.  Mr. Spencer was appointed to the Board on November 4, 1999 and will complete his term on November 4, 2008.

XIII.        Future Meetings

        The Board will meet for a professional development/training event on October 22-23, 2008 in Huntington, West Virginia.  The next regular meeting of the Board will be held November 12-13, 2008 in Charleston, West Virginia.  

XIV.        Adjournment

        Upon motion by Ms. Phillips, seconded by Ms. Hatfield and unanimously carried, the Board adjourned at 12:04 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.

        Wvbeminutes10/9/08