MINUTES

WEST VIRGINIA BOARD OF EDUCATION

Board Conference Room

Capitol Building 6, Room 353

1900 Kanawha Boulevard, East

Charleston, West Virginia

December 11, 2008




I. Call to Order


  President Delores W. Cook called the meeting of the West Virginia Board of Education (WVBE) to order at 9:30 a.m. on December 11, 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, Robert W. Dunlevy, Barbara N. Fish, Burma Hatfield, Lowell E. Johnson, L. Wade Linger Jr., and Gayle C. Manchin, and ex officio Steven L. Paine, State Superintendent of Schools.  Student representative in attendance was Lindsay Holmes of Sissonville who attends Sissonville High School (Kanawha County).  Members absent were Secretary Jenny N. Phillips 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 Ms. Haden, the Board unanimously approved the agenda. 


III. Consent Agenda


Upon motion by Dr. Johnson, seconded by Ms. Hatfield, the Board unanimously approved the Consent Agenda.  (Copies appended to Official Minutes, Attachments A through D and F through M.)


Meeting minutes of October 22 and 23, November 7 and 12, 2008  (Attachment A)


Budget supplement and transfer requests for the month of November 2008 as follows:  total supplements = $122,003,280 and total transfers = $25,445,021 (Attachment B)


Amendment to the Gilmer County Comprehensive Educational Facilities Plan to include the replacement of the HVAC system, mechanical upgrades and a sprinkler system at Gilmer County High School  (Attachment C)

Amendment to the Kanawha County Comprehensive Educational Facilities Plan to include the addition of an activities room at Flinn Elementary School  (Attachment D)


Amendment to the Mason County Comprehensive Educational Facilities Plan to include the replacement of the building's HVAC system, electrical upgrades, and replacement of ceiling tiles at Roosevelt Elementary, demolition of the two oldest wood structures and new construction at Leon Elementary that will include classrooms and administration spaces.  Also the construction of a wrestling/weight room at Wahama Jr./Sr. High  (Attachment F)


Amendment to the Mineral County Comprehensive Educational Facilities Plan to include the replacement of the cooling towers and installation of security fence around the cooling towers at Frankfort Middle School, Keyser Primary/Middle School and Mineral County Technical Center  (Attachment G)


Amendment to the Monongalia County Comprehensive Educational Facilities Plan to include changing the current configuration at Cheat Lake Elementary to PreK-4, changing the current configuration of Cheat Lake Middle School to 5-8, and changing the current classification of University High School, East Elementary and Woodburn Elementary to "P"  (Attachment H)


Amendment to the Putnam County Comprehensive Educational Facilities Plan to include new construction of four classrooms at Hurricane Town Elementary  (Attachment I)


Amendment to the Summers County Comprehensive Educational Facilities Plan to include the installation of an elevator for Hinton Area Elementary (Attachment J)


Employment of Substitute Teachers in Areas of Critical Need policy for Logan County Schools  (Attachment K)


Notifications, per Senate Bill 227, W. Va. Code §18A-4-7a, Transfer of Teachers After Five Days Prior to Starting Instruction, from Lewis, Logan and Raleigh County Schools  (Attachment L)


Modifications to the English teacher preparation programs (5-9 and 5‑Adulthood) at Shepherd University (Attachment M).


IV. Reports


Board Member/Committee Reports.  President Cook, Ms. Haden (distributed information), Mrs. Manchin, Dr. Johnson (distributed information and along with President Cook, Superintendent Paine and appropriate others, will develop a plan for the use of WV VITAL data at the local and state levels), Mrs. Fish, and Mr. Dunlevy provided information regarding their participation in a number of meetings and events. West Virginia Advisory Council for the Education of Exceptional Children (WVACEEC).  Mrs. Fish presented the Board’s response to recommendations found in the WVACEEC’s 2008 Annual Report.  Upon motion by Mrs. Fish, seconded by Ms. Haden, the Board unanimously approved the Board’s response to the WVACEEC’s 2008 Annual Report.  Communications Committee.  Ms. Haden provided a report on the behalf of the Communications Committee and issued the following statement on the behalf of the Communications Committee regarding agendas:  “The Communications Committee recommends that the Board continues to release all of its agenda items in electronic form one week prior to the board meeting to the public and the press when requested.  There has always been an understanding that while these materials are public, they do not become official until voted upon by the West Virginia Board of Education.  The media has always respected this standard operating procedure and we have no reason to believe this will change.  This action supports our belief in full transparency.” Upon motion by Ms. Haden, seconded by Dr. Johnson, the Board unanimously accepted the recommendation of the Communications Committee regarding the distribution of agendas.  (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment Mc and addenda.)  


V. Break


President Cook called for a break at 10:15 a.m.  


VI. Call to Order


President Cook called the meeting back to order at 10:30 a.m.


VII. Reports  (Continued)


State Superintendent’s Report.  Superintendent Paine presented Department personnel actions for the Board’s information, requested that the Board consider directing the Office of Education Performance Audits (OEPA) to conduct an audit in Preston County Schools.  Upon motion by Dr. Johnson, seconded by Ms. Haden and unanimously carried, the Board directed the OEPA to conduct an audit of Preston County Schools.  Superintendent provided updates in Lincoln, McDowell and Mingo Counties (it was the consensus of the Board that meetings with the Lincoln, McDowell and Mingo County Boards be scheduled within the next three months; the meetings are to take place in Charleston), provided a report regarding a recent meeting with the higher education chancellors, announced that Ellen Haley, President of CTB/McGraw-Hill, will provide a presentation at the January meeting and provided updates regarding a number of meetings, programs and initiatives.   Upon motion by Ms. Hatfield, seconded by Mrs. Manchin and unanimously carried, the Board approved the Superintendent’s report in Lincoln, McDowell and Mingo Counties.  West Virginia Board of Education Strategic Plan and Performance Evidence for 2008.  Dr. Jack McClanahan (distributed information), Deputy State Superintendent of Schools, provided an overview of the performance evidence collected on the Board goals and objectives for 2007-2008.  (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment N and addendum.)   President Cook moved, and Ms. Haden seconded, that this item be placed on a future agenda for further discussion.  The motion was carried unanimously.


Regional Education Service Agency (RESA) Report.  Mr. Chuck Nichols (distributed information), Executive Director of RESA III, introduced staff in attendance, demonstrated the RESA III web site, and provided a brief update regarding RESA III activities and initiatives.  (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment Q.)


VIII. West Virginia Board of Education

2009 Legislative Agenda


Superintendent Paine and Dr. McClanahan (distributed information) presented the Board’s legislative agenda as discussed and refined on December 9. 


Following discussion, Ms. Haden moved, and Mr. Dunlevy seconded, that the Board approve the WVBE’s Legislative agenda for the 2009 legislative session and directed that the State Superintendent of Schools continue further study of the WV Year Around Student Enrichment Program, the WVBE Educator Advancement Program, and the Coordinated School Health Program.  Following discussion, Ms. Haden amended her motion to remove the teacher advancement monies from the listing of Requests for FY 2010 Improvements.  Mr. Dunlevy agreed to the amendment and upon the call for the question the motion, as amended, was unanimously carried.  (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment E.)  Additional discussion ensued during which it was the consensus of the Board that the January meeting would be extended to two full days in order to finish discussion of the WVBE strategic plan and performance evidence report and to receive inservice regarding the budget development process.


Dr. Johnson initiated discussion regarding the repeal of W. Va. Code §18-2-6A.  Following discussion, Mrs. Fish moved that W. Va. Code §18-2-6A be repealed.  Dr. Johnson seconded the motion and, following clarification regarding implications associated with the motion, the motion was carried with seven members voting yes and one member voting no.  


IX. WVBE Personnel Matters


Upon motion by Dr. Johnson, seconded by Mr. Dunlevy, the Board unanimously approved the Board’s personnel items.  (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment O.)

X. Board Items for Future Consideration


President Cook requested that items mentioned during the meeting and any others that members wish to be considered for placement on a future agenda be provided to Dr. McClanahan as soon as possible.  (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment P.)


XI. Future Meetings

The next regular meeting of the Board will be held January 14-15, 2009 in Charleston, West Virginia.  




XII. Adjournment


Upon motion by Ms. Haden, seconded by Ms. Hatfield and unanimously carried, the Board adjourned at 1:32 p.m.

 

   Minutes approved by the Board on January 15, 2008.




_______________________________________________

Delores W. Cook, President




_______________________________________________

Jenny N. Phillips, Secretary



   Minutes were recorded by

         Virginia M. Harris

       Secretary to the Board. 

        Wvbeminutes12/11/08










PAGE  



PAGE  - 3 -