MINUTES

WEST VIRGINIA BOARD OF EDUCATION

Board Conference Room

Capitol Building 6, Room 353

1900 Kanawha Boulevard, East

Charleston, West Virginia

December 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 December 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, Burma Hatfield, Lowell E. Johnson, L. Wade Linger Jr., and Gayle C. Manchin, and ex officios Steven L. Paine, State Superintendent of Schools, and Brian E. Noland, Chancellor, West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission.  Student representative in attendance was Ben Adams of Charleston who attends Capital High School.  Member absent was ex officio and James L. Skidmore, Chancellor, West Virginia Council for Community and Technical College Education.  


II. Approval of Agenda


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


III. Common Core State Standards Initiative


Superintendent Paine, assisted by Dr. Amelia Courts, Executive Director, WVDE Office of International Schools and ESL, provided an update, via PowerPoint presentation (attached), regarding West Virginia’s Race to the Top grant proposal (4.3 billion dollar US Department of Education competitive grant) and, assisted by Dr. Jan Barth, Executive Director, WVDE Office of Assessment, Accountability, and Research, Dr. Jorea Marple, Assistant State Superintendent, WVDE Division of Curriculum and Instructional Services, and Mr. Chuck Heinlein, Executive Director, WVDE Office of Organizational Effectiveness and Leadership, provided an overview of the Common Core State Standards initiative.  The National Governors Association Center for Best Practices and the Council of Chief State School Officers have convened a state-led process to develop common English‑language arts and mathematics standards for grades K‑12. These standards will be research and evidence-based, internationally benchmarked, aligned with college and work expectations, and include rigorous content and skills.  (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment I.)


IV. WVBE Legislative Monitoring Committee


Mrs. Cook, assisted by Dr. Jack McClanahan (distributed information), Deputy State Superintendent of Schools, and Dr. Jorea Marple, Assistant State Superintendent, Division of Curriculum and Instructional Services, presented the Board’s proposed FY-2010 legislative agenda and FY‑2011 improvement packages for the Board’s consideration.  Following discussion, Dr. Johnson moved, and Mrs. Manchin seconded, that the removal of the budget cap for the RESAs be removed from the FY-2010 legislative agenda.  Upon the call for the question the motion was unanimously carried.  It was the consensus of the Board that the Board’s RESA Committee take up concerns regarding RESA funding and services.  Discussion ensued regarding the alternative principal certification proposal whereupon Mrs. Manchin moved, and Mr. Dunlevy seconded, that the proposal remain as a part of the Board’s FY-2010 legislative agenda.  Upon the call for the question, the motion was carried with eight members voting yes, and one member, President Haden, voting no.  


V. Break


President Haden called a break for lunch at 12:40 p.m.  


VI. Call to Order


President Haden called the meeting back to order at 1:10 p.m. and moved the College Foundation of West Virginia Outreach Plan item to the first order of business. 


VII. College Foundation of West Virginia Outreach Plan


Chancellor Noland presented an overview of the College Foundation of West Virginia Outreach Plan.  Mr. Adams and Superintendent Paine addressed the Board regarding the outreach website and the interfacing/aligning of all applicable boards. (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment C.)  Chancellor Noland departed the meeting.


VIII. WVBE Legislative Monitoring Committee (Continued)


Dr. Johnson (distributed information) provided an overview of the recommendations developed by the Governor’s Jobs Cabinet.  Upon conclusion of discussion Dr. Johnson moved, and Ms. Phillips seconded, approval of the FY-2010 legislative agenda and FY 2011 improvement packages as previously amended.  Upon the call for the question the motion was unanimously carried.  (Copy appended to the Official Minutes, Attachment J and addendum.)


IX. Education Performance Audit Report – Randolph County Progress Report


Dr. Kenna R. Seal, Director, Office of Education Performance Audits (OEPA), reported that the OEPA conducted an announced Education Performance Audit of the Randolph County Central Office on February 25-28, 2008.  The Board reviewed the report at the May 14, 2008, meeting and directed the county to submit a plan of corrective action for the areas identified in the OEPA report.  The Board further directed the OEPA return to Randolph County in 90 days to review the county’s progress in correcting the items identified in the Randolph County Education Performance Audit Report. The OEPA returned to Randolph County on October 6-8, 2008, to conduct a progress review and presented the progress report to the State Board at its December 2008 meeting.  The State Board declared a state of emergency in the school system and issued Randolph County Nonapproval status pursuant to the provisions of W.Va. Code §18-2E-5 (p)(C) and gave the county six months to show progress in correcting the emergency or face possible intervention.  The OEPA returned to Randolph County on October 20-23, 2009, to assess progress of the county in correcting conditions that led to the Nonapproval status.  Dr. James B. Phares, Superintendent of Randolph County Schools, addressed the Board regarding the OEPA audit report.

 

Upon recommendation of Dr. Seal and a motion by Ms. Phillips, seconded by Mrs. Cook, the Board unanimously granted the Randolph County School System Full Approval status with the following provisions:  1)  the OEPA conduct an Education Performance Audit, in the fall of 2010, of the deficiencies that have not been corrected; and, 2) the WVBE continue oversight for two years (December 2011) of the Randolph County School System to assure that the current improvements and progress are sustained and student performance increase, and granted the schools the accreditation status listed in the Education Performance Audit Report.  (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment A.) 


X. School District Approval Status and School Accreditation Status

December 2009 Report of Ratings

 

Dr. Seal presented the report of ratings for the Board’s review and consideration.  The WVBE annually rates both schools and school systems on the results of information reviewed from the system of education performance audits.  


Upon the recommendation of Dr. Seal and a motion by Mrs. Cook, seconded by Ms. Phillips, the Board unanimously issued the schools and school systems in West Virginia the accreditation/approval status as shown in the December 2009 Report of Ratings.  (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment B.) 


XI. 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 Official Minutes, Attachment D, and to the Official Minutes of December 10, 2009 at Attachment O.) 


XII. Policy 2525, West Virginia Universal Access to a Quality Early Education System


Mr. Clayton Burch, Coordinator, WVDE Office of Special Programs, Extended and Early Learning, presented Policy 2525 for the Board’s consideration.  (Copy appended to Official Minutes of December 10, 2009 at Attachment P.) 



XIII. Policy 5202, Minimum Requirements for the

Licensure of Professional/Paraprofessional Personnel

and Advanced Salary Classifications


Ms. Lori Wiggins, Assistant Director, WVDE Office of Professional Preparation, presented Policy 5202 for the Board’s consideration.  (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment E, and to the Official Minutes of December 10, 2009 at Attachment Q.) 


XIV. Ohio Valley University's Progress toward Meeting Standards


Mr. Nathan Estel, Executive Director, WVDE Office of Professional Preparation, provided a summary of findings resulting from the six month progress review at Ohio Valley University. In the spring of 2008, an on-site review of Ohio Valley University's educator preparation was conducted.  Upon completion of the visit, the institution was provided the opportunity to respond to the initial report.  Using both the report from the on-site review team and the institution's response to that report, the Educator Preparation Program Review Board determined that standards identified in WVBE Policy 5100 were not fully met.  At its June 2008, meeting, the WVBE placed the programs offered through Ohio Valley University on Conditional Approval Status for a period not to exceed eighteen months.  Further, the WVBE directed the WVDE to conduct onsite reviews of the institution's progress toward meeting standards at six month intervals.  The six month progress review was conducted and a summary of the findings will be provided to the WVBE.  (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment F.)


XV. Approval of Educator Preparation Programs at Wheeling Jesuit University


Mr. Estel presented education preparation programs at Wheeling Jesuit University for the Board’s consideration.  In the spring of 2009, an on-site review of the educator preparation programs at Wheeling Jesuit University was conducted.  The Educator Preparation Program Review Board (EPPRB) has reviewed the report from the on-site review team and the response from the institution.  Upon review, the EPPRB found that five of six standards identified in Policy 5100 were met.  Further, the EPPRB identified eight Areas for Improvement.  Dr. Connie Myer, Director, Professional Education Department, Wheeling Jesuit University, addressed the Board regarding the on-site review.


Upon motion by Mr. Dunlevy, seconded by Mrs. Cook, the Board unanimously granted conditional approval status to Wheeling Jesuit University with a focused visit within 18 months to evaluate progress in addressing the unmet Standard and all eight Areas for Improvement.  (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment G.)


XVI. WVBE Strategic Plan Data Report


Dr. McClanahan (distributed information), assisted by Mr. Estel, presented an update of the Board’s strategic plan data report.  Superintendent Paine requested an item be placed on the February agenda to address Board action with regard to the data.  (Copy appended to the Official Minutes, Attachment H and addendum.)


XVII. Future Meetings

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


XVIII. Adjournment


President Haden declared the meeting adjourned at 3:38 p.m.

 

   Minutes approved by the Board on January 14, 2010.




________________________________________________

Priscilla M. Haden, President




________________________________________________

Robert W. Dunlevy, Secretary


   Minutes were recorded by

         Virginia M. Harris

       Secretary to the Board. 

        Wvbeminutes12/9/09










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