MINUTES

WEST VIRGINIA BOARD OF EDUCATION

Board Conference Room

Capitol Building 6, Room 353

1900 Kanawha Boulevard, East

Charleston, West Virginia

February 12, 2009




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 February 12, 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 officios Steven L. Paine, State Superintendent of Schools, and James L. Skidmore, Chancellor, West Virginia Council for Community and Technical College Education.  Student representative in attendance was Lindsay Holmes of Sissonville who attends Sissonville High School (Kanawha County).  Member absent was ex officio Brian E. Noland, Chancellor, West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission.


II. Recognition


President Cook stated that the Board will attend a press conference, for the naming of the teacher of the year, in the Governor’s Reception Room at 1:00 p.m.


III. Delegation


Mr. Dale Lee (distributed information), President, West Virginia Education Association, addressed the Board regarding the recommendations of the 21st Century Jobs Cabinet of West Virginia.  Dr. Johnson distributed AFT-West Virginia’s response to the recommendations.  (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment U.)

IV. Approval of Agenda


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


V. Consent Agenda


Upon motion by Ms. Phillips, seconded by Mrs. Fish, the Board unanimously approved the Consent Agenda.  (Copies appended to Official Minutes, Attachments A through O.)

Meeting minutes of January 14 and 15, 2009  (Attachment A)


Budget supplement and transfer requests for the month of January 2009 as follows:  total supplements = $20,205,361 and total transfers = $23,888,380 (Attachment B)


Amendment to the Preston County Comprehensive Educational Facilities Plan to include the temporary or permanent closure of the main structure at South Preston Middle School until it is determined to be structurally sound or abandoned.  The sixth graders will be housed at Tunnelton‑Denver Elementary School and the seventh and eighth graders will be housed in the gymnasium and the band building at South Preston School.   Also, the conversion of the current industrial arts classroom/shop area at Bruceton School into two instructional classrooms and lastly, to allow for the remodeling of current vocational shop areas into classroom space and the conversion of the library into an art classroom at Terra Alta/East Preston  (Attachment C)


Amendment to the Roane County Comprehensive Educational Facilities Plan to include the enlargement and upgrade of the existing fire escape in the Spencer Middle School gymnasium  (Attachment D)


Amendment to the Taylor County Comprehensive Educational Facilities Plan to include installation of three roof top units at Taylor County Middle School  (Attachment E)


Two requests for waivers of attendance at the West Virginia Principal Leadership Academy for New Principals  (Attachment F)


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


Employment of Substitute Teachers in Areas of Critical Need policies for Cabell, Hardy, and Marshall County Schools and the Official of Institutional Education Programs  (Attachment H)


Policy 2325, High Quality Standards for Juvenile Institutional Education Programs for placement on public comment for 30 days  (Attachment I)


Policy 2520.35, 21st Century Science 9-12 Content Standards and Objectives for West Virginia Schools, specifically  the content standards and objectives for physical science, biology and conceptual biology, for placement on public comment for 30 days  (Attachment J)


Policy 5100, Approval of Educational Personnel Preparation Programs, specifically Appendices A-2, C-1 and E, for placement on public comment for 30 days  (Attachment K)


West Virginia Wesleyan College’s Masters in Education program leading to initial certification in secondary education 5-Adult  (Attachment L)


Appointment of George Aulenbacher to a three-year on the Educator Preparation Program Review Board  (Attachment M)


West Virginia State Plan for Implementation of the Summer Food Service Program 2009  (Attachment N)


Revised Individual School and County Strategic Plans for Whitesville Elementary School (Boone County), Lizemore Elementary (Clay County), Dunbar Primary School (Kanawha County), Buckhannon-Upshur Middle School (Upshur County), and Randolph County School District  (Attachment O).


VI. Reports


Board Member/Committee Reports.  President Cook, Ms. Haden, Mrs. Manchin, Ms. Phillips, Dr. Johnson, and Mrs. Fish provided information regarding their participation in a number of meetings and events.  During her report, Mrs. Fish moved, and Mrs. Manchin seconded, that the Board vigorously endorse the concept of a 20 minute recess in every elementary school every day.  Following discussion, during which it was clarified that this motion was in the form of a recommendation and did not require a change of W. Va. Code or WVBE policy, President Cook called for the question and the motion was carried unanimously.


VII. Break


President Cook called for a break at 10:02 a.m.  


VIII. Call to Order


President Cook called the meeting back to order at 10:14 a.m.


IX. Reports (Continued)


  State Superintendent’s Report.  Superintendent Paine presented Department personnel actions for the Board’s information and provided updates in Hampshire, Lincoln, McDowell and Mingo Counties.  Superintendent Paine also discussed the education portions of the recently passed stimulus package and the need to use discretionary monies for professional development for teachers.  Dr. Dixie Billheimer, Interim Chief Executive Officer, West Virginia Center for Professional Development, addressed the Board regarding professional development initiatives.  Superintendent Paine requested that discretionary funding be prioritized for professional development and bandwidth.  Ms. Haden moved, and Ms. Phillips seconded, that letters be issued, from the State Superintendent and on the behalf of the Board, to legislators at the state and national levels denoting West Virginia’s need to prioritize the use of discretionary funds for research-based professional development, collaborative planning time, and for increasing bandwidth.  The motion was carried unanimously.  Upon motion by Dr. Johnson, seconded by Ms. Haden, the Board unanimously accepted the Superintendent’s report.  


Superintendent Paine indicated that Consent Agenda item 13. West Virginia Annual Application Under Part B of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) as Amended in 2004 for Federal Fiscal Year 2009 (Attachment Mc), approved previously, required amendment and thus must  be removed from the Consent Agenda for the Board’s consideration and action.  The amended attachment was distributed for the Board’s review.


Mrs. Fish moved to rescind the previous motion approving Consent Agenda item 13. West Virginia Annual Application Under Part B of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) as Amended in 2004 for Federal Fiscal Year 2009 and that the items remaining on the Consent Agenda be approved.  Ms. Haden seconded the motion and it was carried unanimously.


President Cook called for a motion to publish the Funding Application under Part B, IDEA, FFY 2009 (2009-2010) to the WVDE’s website no later than February 13 and that public comments be accepted from March 2 through March 31, 2009.  Mrs. Fish moved the motion as stated by President Cook.  Dr. Johnson seconded the motion and it was carried unanimously. (Copies appended to Official Minutes, Attachment P and Attachment Mc and addendum.)


Regional Education Service Agency (RESA) Report.  Mr. Ronald K. Nichols, Executive Director of RESA V, provided an update regarding RESA V activities and initiatives.  Mr. Chuck Nicholas, Executive Director of RESA III and RESA Liaison to the Board, addressed the Board regarding the standardization of emergency response procedures/practices through a program developed by Homeland Security and also the standardization of procedures throughout the eight RESAs.  Dr. Johnson requested further information regarding the emergency response procedures/procedures prior to the implementation of the same in the public school systems.


West Virginia Schools for the Deaf and the Blind (WVSDB) 2nd Quarter Report.  Dr. Patsy K. Shank (distributed PowerPoint presentation), Superintendent of the WVSDB, provided an update regarding WVSDB activities and initiatives.  (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment Q and addendum.)


X. West Virginia Board of Education Professional

Development Plan/Goals for 2009-2010


President Cook called for a motion to approve the professional development plan and goals for 2009-2010.  Upon motion by Dr. Johnson, seconded by Mr. Dunlevy, the Board unanimously approved the professional development plan and goals for 2009-2010.  (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment R.)


XI. WVBE Personnel Matters Including the Suspension of a

West Virginia Schools for the Deaf and the Blind Employee


Upon motion by Dr, Johnson, seconded by Ms. Phillips, the Board unanimously approved the Board’s personnel items as presented in the attachment.  (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment S.)

XII. 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 her or to Dr. Jack McClanahan, Deputy State Superintendent of Schools, as soon as possible.  President Cook recognized Ms. Holmes for her service to the Board as the student representative to the Board during the months of December, January and February.  (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment T.)


XIII. Future Meetings

The next regular meeting of the Board will be held March 10, 2009 in Charleston, West Virginia.  The Board will also meet on March 2, 2009 to hear an employee grievance.


XIV. Adjournment


Upon motion by Dr. Johnson, seconded by Ms. Phillips and unanimously carried, the Board adjourned at 12:01 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. 

        wvbeminutes2/12/09









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