MINUTES

WEST VIRGINIA BOARD OF EDUCATION

Board Conference Room

Capitol Building 6, Room 353

1900 Kanawha Boulevard, East

Charleston, West Virginia

February 11, 2009




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 February 11, 2009, 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, 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 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. Delegations


Ms. Marilyn Lewis, Boone County grandparent/parent, addressed the Board regarding special education needs in Boone County Schools.  Mr. Arvin Harsh, Challenge WV, and Mr. Rick Rhodes (provided documentation for the minutes), Preston County citizen, addressed the Board regarding transportation time of students in Preston County and the awarding of building contracts.  (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment F.)

III. Approval of Agenda


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


IV. Progress Report – Fayette County School District


Dr. Kenna R. Seal, Director, Office of Education Performance Audits (OEPA), reported that an unannounced on-site review of the Fayette County School District was conducted November 14-16, 2006.  The Board reviewed the OEPA report at its January 10, 2007 meeting and declared that extraordinary circumstances existed and issued the county Nonapproval status.  In accordance with W. Va. Code §18-2E-5 the WVBE appointed an Improvement Consultant Team (ICT) to make recommendations for correcting the emergency and gave the county six (6) months to correct the deficiencies in the OEPA report.  A Follow-up Education Performance Audit Team returned to the Fayette County School System November 17-21, 2008 to determine if the school district and schools had followed the recommendations by the ICT and if the issues and deficiencies in the OEPA report had been corrected. Dialogue regarding the progress report took place among WVBE members, WVDE personnel, two Fayette County Board of Education members, and the Superintendent of Fayette County Schools.


Upon recommendation of Dr. Seal and a motion by Ms. Haden, seconded by Mr. Dunlevy, the Board, with eight members voting yes and one member voting no, issued the Fayette County School District and the schools the respective approval and accreditation status listed in the Final Education Performance Audit Report.  (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment A.)


V. Break


President Cook called for a break at 1:34 p.m.  


VI. Call to Order


President Cook called the meeting back to order at 1:44 p.m.


VII. Randolph County Strategic Plan Revisions


Dr. Jack McClanahan, Deputy State Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Karen Huffman, Special Assistant, Division of Educator Quality and System Support, Ms. Donna Peduto, Coordinator, and Chuck Heinlein, CAG Liaison, WVDE Office of Title II – School and School System Improvement, presented the process now being used by counties/schools to address OEPA findings and provided a status report regarding the Randolph County response to a recent OEPA visit.  Randolph County is the first county to utilize the new process that involves having a WVDE Technical Assistance Team visit the county and collaborate on the development of a revised strategic plan.  This streamlined plan reflects prioritized goals with objectives, action steps, timeline and persons responsible.  A website, developed to allow interactive sharing of strategic plan documents and related resources, was demonstrated.


Upon motion by Dr. Johnson, seconded by Ms. Phillips, the Board unanimously accepted the progress report for Randolph County.   (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment B.)


VIII. Salem International University's Progress toward Meeting Standards


Mr. Nathan Estel, Executive Director, WVDE Office of Professional Preparation, presented a report regarding Salem International University’s progress toward meeting standards required by WVBE Policy 5100.  A follow-up review was conducted at Salem International University January 2009.  Follow-up reviews are being conducted at the request of the WVBE after a February of 2008 on‑site review of Salem International University's educator preparation program.  At its June 2008 meeting, the WVBE placed the programs offered through Salem International University on Conditional Approval Status for a period not to exceed eighteen months.  It was requested that correspondence be sent to Salem International University and Ms. Rita Ray, Executive Director, West Virginia’s Independent Colleges and Universities, advising of the Board’s concern regarding the current progress made toward meeting standards required by Policy 5100. (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment C.)  


VII. Policy 2325, High Quality Standards for

Juvenile Institutional Education Programs


Dr. Pamela S. Cain, Assistant State Superintendent, Division of Student Support Services, and Dr. Fran Warsing, Superintendent, WVDE Office of Institutional Education Programs, presented Policy 2325 for the Board’s consideration.  (Copy appended to Official Minutes of February 12, 2009 at Attachment I.)


VIII. Policy 2520.35, 21st Century Science 9-12 Content Standards

and Objectives for West Virginia Schools


Dr. Jorea Marple, Assistant State Superintendent, Division of Curriculum and Instructional Services, and Ms. Marty Burke, Assistant Director, WVDE Office of Instruction, presented Policy 2520.35 for the Board’s consideration.  (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment D and to the Official Minutes of February 12, 2009 at Attachment J.)


IX. Policy 5100, Approval of Educational Personnel Preparation Programs


Mr. Estel and Ms. Kellie Crawford, Coordinator, WVDE Office of Professional Preparation, presented Policy 5100 for the Board’s consideration.  (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment E and to the Official Minutes of February 12, 2009 at Attachment K.)


X. Executive Session


As the presiding officer, President Cook informed the members that she had identified various matters that required discussion in Executive Session involving attorney-client privilege, citing W.Va. Code '6-9A-3, and personnel, citing W.Va. Code '6-9A-4(b)(2)(A).


Upon motion by Ms. Phillips, seconded by Mr. Dunlevy and unanimously carried, the Board entered into Executive Session at 2:50 p.m.


XI. Return from Executive Session


The Board returned from Executive Session at 3:32 p.m. at which time President Cook announced that no action was taken and no decisions were made.


XII. Future Meetings

The next regular meeting of the Board will be held February 12, 2009 in Charleston, West Virginia.  

XIII. Adjournment


Upon motion by Mrs. Manchin, seconded by Ms. Phillips and unanimously carried, the Board adjourned at 3:34 p.m.

 

   Minutes approved by the Board on March 10, 2009.



_______________________________________________

Delores W. Cook, President



_______________________________________________

Jenny N. Phillips, Secretary

   Minutes were recorded by

         Virginia M. Harris

       Secretary to the Board. 

        wvbeminutes2/11/09










PAGE  



PAGE  - 4 -