MINUTES

WEST VIRGINIA BOARD OF EDUCATION

Board Conference Room

Capitol Building 6, Room 353

1900 Kanawha Boulevard, East

Charleston, West Virginia

November 9, 2009




I. Call to Order


  President Priscilla M. Haden called the meeting of the West Virginia Board of Education (WVBE) to order at 10:00 a.m. on November 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, Michael I. Green, 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 Ben Adams of Charleston who attends Capital High School.  Members absent were:  Burma Hatfield, 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. Oath of Office


Superintendent Paine administered the oath of office to Mr. Green.


III. Approval of Agenda


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


IV. West Virginia Collaborative for Leadership Development and Support


Ms. Lydia McCue (distributed information), contract employee, Superintendent’s Office, addressed the Board and presented recommendations (PowerPoint presentation entitled, “Creating a Policy Framework for Great Leadership in WV Schools and School Systems”) on the behalf of the West Virginia Collaborative for Leadership Development and Support.  For 18 months, a group of 45 educators representing higher education, public education, the West Virginia Legislature, professional organizations, and other stakeholders have worked to develop a framework for leadership development and support. This group’s work stems from a 2007 report issued by the Southern Regional Education Board that gave West Virginia an unfavorable evaluation on efforts to improve the quality of leadership.  Representatives of this Leadership Collaborative requested input from the WVBE on the new Leadership Standards for teacher leaders, principals and superintendents and for feedback on the 18 recommendations in the Master Plan.  The Board was requested to provide feedback to Ms. McCue; this item will be brought back before the Board for action at a future meeting. (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment A and addenda.)


V. Break


President Haden called a break for lunch at 12:17 p.m.  


VI. Call to Order


President Haden called the meeting back to order at 1:02 p.m.


VII. Vision Shared, Inc.


Ms. Juliet A. Terry (distributed information), President, Vision Shared, Inc., addressed the Board regarding Vision Shared.  Vision Shared is a statewide nonprofit, nonpartisan community and economic development organization. The mission of Vision Shared is to bridge social, political and economic gaps by bringing people together to confront issues and needs facing West Virginia.  (Copy appended to the Official Minutes, Attachment B and addendum.)


VIII. Approval of Exemplary Accreditation Status Schools


Dr. Kenna R. Seal, Director, Office of Education Performance Audits, presented performance data for schools and recommended that the schools found in the attachment be awarded Exemplary Accreditation status.  


Upon recommendation of Dr. Seal and a motion by Ms. Phillips, seconded by Mr. Dunlevy, the Board unanimously approved Exemplary Accreditation status for the schools listed in the attachment.  (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment C.) 


IX. Education Performance Audit Report for the

Grant County School System, Grant County

 

Dr. Seal reported that an announced (five days in advance) on-site review, as directed by the WVBE, was conducted in the Grant County School District October 6-8, 2009, and October 15-16, 2009. The Team also reviewed each of Grant County’s schools.

Upon recommendation of Dr. Seal, Mr. Linger moved, and Ms. Phillips seconded, that the Board accept the Education Performance Audit Report for the Grant County School System and issue Nonapproval status to the Grant County School System, declare that a state of emergency exists in the school system, and pursuant to W. Va. Code 18-2E-5(p)(C), intervene immediately in the operation of the school system.  Following discussion and upon the call for the question the motion was carried unanimously.  (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment D.)

Superintendent Paine issued the following recommendations to the State Board as a result of the recommendations of the OEPA:

1) that the State Board find, based on the report from the Office of Education Performance Audits, that extraordinary circumstances exist in the Grant County school system

2) that the State Board assign nonapproval status to the Grant County school system

3) that the State Board declare that a state of emergency exists in the Grant County school system based on the information presented in the OEPA report

4) that the State Board find that the conditions precedent to State Board intervention in a county school system are present in this instance

5) that the State Board find that it would not be in the best interests of the students of Grant County to delay intervention for any period of time

6) that the State Board limit the authority of the Grant County Board of Education as to the expenditure of funds, the employment and dismissal of personnel, the establishment and operation of the school calendar, the establishment of instructional programs and rules and any other areas designated by the state board by rule and delegate decision-making authority to the State Superintendent regarding these matters

7) that the State Board delegate to the State Superintendent the authority to conduct hearings on personnel matters and school closure or consolidation mattes and subsequently to render the resulting decisions, and the authority to appoint a designee for the limited purpose of conducting hearings while reserving to the State Superintendent the authority to render the resulting decision

8) that the State Board limit the authority of the Grant County Board of Education as to the ability to conduct real estate transactions and delegate to the State Superintendent the authority to act in lieu of the Grant County Board of Education in a transfer, sale, purchase or other transaction regarding real estate

9) that the State Board delegate to the State Superintendent the authority to replace administrators and principals in low performing schools and to transfer them to alternate professional positions within the county at his discretion

10) that the State Board delegate to the State Superintendent the authority to fill positions of administrators and principals with individuals determined by the State Superintendent to be the most qualified for the positions

11) that the State Board declare the office of county superintendent of schools of Grant County to be vacant

12) that the State Board appoint Dr. Sharon Harmon to be the interim Superintendent of Grant County Schools at her current salary starting today, continuing until Monday, November 16, 2009 

13) that the State Board grant the State Superintendent the authority to hire a county superintendent to begin employment in Grant County Schools on November 16, 2009 and set his/her salary.   

14) that the State Board direct the Grant County Superintendent and the State Superintendent, after consultation with the Grant County Board of Education, to jointly develop and present to the State Board at a future meeting a set of standards and/or a strategic plan that must be implemented in order for the Grant County Board of Education to regain control of the school system, and

15) that the State Board direct the Grant County Interim Superintendent and/or Superintendent to provide written and/or oral progress reports to the State Board as requested.

Upon motion by Mrs. Manchin, seconded by Ms. Phillips, the Board unanimously approved the recommendations presented by Superintendent Paine.  Following the vote Superintendent Paine stated that he will appoint Mr. Ted Mattern as Superintendent of Grant County Schools effective November 16, 2009, at which time Dr. Sharon Harmon will become Assistant Superintendent.

X. FY 2011 Improvement Packages


Mr. Terry Harless, Executive Director, WVDE Office of Internal Operations, addressed the Board regarding FY 2011 improvement packages submitted by the WVDE to the State Budget Office.  The WVBE’s Legislative Committee will meet prior to the December meeting to discuss improvement packages and bring recommendations to the Board.  Dr. Fran Warsing, Superintendent, WVDE Office of Institutional Education Programs, addressed the Board regarding the improvement packages for the juvenile centers.    (Copy appended to the Official Minutes, Attachment E.)


XI. WVBE Legislative Agenda


Dr. Jack McClanahan (distributed information), Deputy State Superintendent of Schools, addressed the Board regarding potential items for the upcoming legislative session.  Dr. Jorea Marple, Assistant State Superintendent, Division of Curriculum and Instructional Services, addressed the Board regarding proposed changes to textbook adoption law.  (Copy appended to the Official Minutes, Attachment H.)


XII. Policy 4110, Attendance


Dr. Warsing presented Policy 4110 for the Board’s consideration.


Upon motion by Mr. Dunlevy, seconded by Ms. Phillips and unanimously carried, the Board placed Policy 4110, at section 5.3.3.d., on public comment for 30 days.  (Copy appended to the Official Minutes, Attachment F.)


XIII. Official State Multiple List of Instructional Materials

for Mathematics, Family and Consumer Sciences, and Agricultural Education


Dr. Marple and Ms. Alma Simpson, Coordinator, WVDE Office of Instruction, presented the Official State Multiple List of Instructional Materials for Mathematics, Family and Consumer Sciences, and Agricultural Education for the Board’s consideration.  


Upon motion by Ms. Phillips, seconded by Mrs. Cook and unanimously carried, the Board approved the Official State Multiple List of Instructional Materials for Mathematics, Family and Consumer Sciences, and Agricultural Education.  (Copy appended to the Official Minutes, Attachment G.)


XIV. Break


President Haden called for a break at 2:45 p.m.  


XV. Call to Order


President Haden called the meeting back to order at 3:00 p.m.


XVI. School Improvement Procedures


Mr. Chuck Heinlein, Executive Director, WVDE Office of Organizational Effectiveness and Leadership, addressed the Board regarding a new school improvement model to be utilized with struggling schools.


XVII. 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 Ms. Phillips, seconded by Mrs. Manchin and unanimously carried, the Board entered into executive session at 3:14 p.m. 


XVIII. Return from Executive Session


The Board returned from executive session at 3:45 p.m. at which time President Haden reported that no action was taken. 





XIX. Future Meetings

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


XX. Adjournment


Upon motion by Mr. Dunlevy, seconded by Ms. Phillips and unanimously carried, the Board adjourned at 3:46 p.m.

 

   Minutes approved by the Board on December 10, 2009.




________________________________________________

Priscilla M. Haden, President




________________________________________________

Robert W. Dunlevy, Secretary


   Minutes were recorded by

         Virginia M. Harris

       Secretary to the Board. 

        Wvbeminutes11/9/09









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