MINUTES

WEST VIRGINIA BOARD OF EDUCATION

Board Conference Room

Capitol Building 6, Room 353

1900 Kanawha Boulevard, East

Charleston, West Virginia

September 9, 2009




I. Call to Order


  President Priscilla M. Haden called the meeting of the West Virginia Board of Education (WVBE) to order at 12:30 p.m. on September 9, 2009, in the Board Conference Room, Capitol Building 6, Room 353, 1900 Kanawha Boulevard, East, Charleston, West Virginia.


The following members were present:  President Haden, Vice President Jenny N. Phillips, Secretary Robert W. Dunlevy, Delores W. Cook, 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, Brian E. Noland, Chancellor, West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission, and James L. Skidmore, Chancellor, West Virginia Council for Community and Technical College Education.  Student representative in attendance was Jordan Lovejoy of Pineville who attends Wyoming East High School.  


II. Recognitions


Paul J. Morris Character Educator of the Year.  President Haden, on the behalf of the Board, recognized Ms. Debi Lewis, Counselor, Stratton Elementary School, Raleigh County Schools, recipient of the 2009 Paul J. Morris Character Educator of the Year Award.


Mingo County Schools’ Flood Recovery Team.  President Haden, on the behalf of the Board, recognized the following individuals for their diligence and commitment to Mingo County students following the floods that destroyed school property throughout southern West Virginia:

Mr. Jimmy Gianato, Director, Office of Emergency Management

Mr. Tony Turner, Assistant Director, Radiation, Toxics and Indoor Air Division,

West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources

Mr. Steve Gibson, Contract Administrator, Williamson Shriver Architects

Mr. Bud Henderson, General Contractor

Mr. Ted Shriver, Vice President, Williamson Shriver Architects

Mr. Randy Keathley, Assistant Superintendent, Mingo County Schools

Mr. Hank Starr, Maintenance Director, Mingo County Schools

Mr. David Starcher, FEMA Disaster Assistance Employee

Mr. Dwight Dials, Superintendent, Mingo County Schools


Mr. Delmer Blankenship, Principal, Gilbert Elementary School

Mr. Daniel Dean, Principal, Gilbert High School

Ms. Heather Deskins, General Counsel, WVDE Office of Legal Services

Mr. Joe Panetta, Executive Director, WVDE Office of School Finance


III. Approval of Agenda


President Haden requested that agenda item VI. B.  Selection of Schools and County School.  Systems for Education Performance Audits, be moved to follow item XI. NASBE Adolescent Literacy Grant.  Upon motion by Mrs. Manchin, seconded by Mrs. Fish, the Board unanimously approved the agenda as amended. 


IV. The West Virginia Vision to Improve Teaching and Learning

(WV VITAL) Final Report


Dr. Johnson introduced Mr. Eric Hirsh, Director of Special Projects, The New Teacher Center.  Mr. Hirsh addressed the Board regarding the WV VITAL final report which included policy implications and how comprehensive, sustained efforts to improve teaching and learning conditions will ensure that the state's educators are able to help every child in West Virginia learn. Almost 10,000 West Virginia educators (43 percent from across the state) participated in the WV VITAL Survey.  Ms. Ann Maddock, Senior Policy Advisor, The New Teacher Center, addressed the Board regarding North Carolina’s experience as a result of participating in teacher working conditions survey.  Dr. Johnson distributed and presented nine recommendations from the Board’s WV VITAL Stakeholders Committee for the Board’s consideration.


It was the consensus of the Board that the nine recommendations of the Board’s WV VITAL Stakeholders Committee, as amended at number seven with the addition of LOCEA and West Virginia Commission for Professional Teaching Standards to receive the final report, be accepted.  As a result of recommendation number four, President Haden appointed Mr. Linger as chair of the Board’s RESA Committee on Technology.  Superintendent Paine suggested that it is time that a school improvement policy be developed and would bring the same before the Board for consideration at the October or November meeting. It was the consensus of the Board that a school improvement policy be developed for its consideration.  (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment A and addendum.)


V. Break


President Haden called for a break at 2:03 p.m.  


VI. Call to Order


President Haden called the meeting back to order at 2:20 p.m.





VII. Policy 2340, West Virginia Measures of Academic Progress


Dr. Jan Barth, Executive Director, WVDE Office of Assessment and Accountability, presented Policy 2340 for the Board’s consideration.  (Copy appended to the Official Minutes of September 10, 2009 at Attachment H.)


VIII. Policy 2445.41, "Textbooks" Adoption: Notice,

Request and Instructions to Publishers


Ms. Carla Williamson, Executive Director, WVDE Office of Instruction, presented Policy 2445.41 for the Board’s consideration.  (Copy appended to the Official Minutes of September 10, 2009 at Attachment I.) 


IX. Policy 2419, Regulations for the Education of Students with Exceptionalities

 

Dr. Lynn Boyer, Executive Director, WVDE Office of Special Programs, Extended and Early Learning, presented Policy 2419 for the Board’s consideration.  (Copy appended to the Official Minutes of September 10, 2009 at Attachment J.)


X. Technical Preparation Program of Study


Dr. Stanley Hopkins, Assistant State Superintendent, WVDE Division of Technical and Adult Education Services, addressed the Board regarding proposed student options within the High School Technical Preparation (Skilled Pathway) program.  These options include the EDGE Academy, Accelerated Technical Pathway, and the Traditional Skilled Pathway.  (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment B.)  Chancellor Skidmore departed the meeting.


XI. NASBE Adolescent Literacy Grant


Ms. Terry Reale, Coordinator, WVDE Office of Instruction, reported that NASBE, due to extenuating circumstances, will not be awarding adolescent literacy grants at this time.  Ms. Reale provided a brief update regarding adolescent literacy initiatives.


XII. Selection of Schools and County School Systems
 for Education Performance Audits


President Haden, in accordance with W. Va. Code §18-2E-5(m)(1), called for a motion to enter into executive session to discuss schools to be subject to an on-site review or dates for which on-site reviews will be conducted.  Upon motion by Dr. Johnson, seconded by Ms. Phillips and unanimously carried, the Board entered into executive session at 3:14 p.m. 


XIII. Return from Executive Session


The Board returned from executive session at 4:09 p.m. at which time President Haden reported that no action was taken.


XIV. Future Meetings

The next regular meeting of the Board will be held September 10, 2009, in Charleston, West Virginia.  


XV. Adjournment


President Haden declared the meeting adjourned at 4:10 p.m.

 

   Minutes approved by the Board on October 8, 2009.




________________________________________________

Priscilla M. Haden, President



________________________________________________

Robert W. Dunlevy, Secretary


   Minutes were recorded by

         Virginia M. Harris

       Secretary to the Board. 

        Wvbeminutes9/9/09









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