MINUTES

WEST VIRGINIA BOARD OF EDUCATION

Board Conference Room

Capitol Building 6, Room 353

1900 Kanawha Boulevard, East

Charleston, West Virginia

January 13, 2010




I. Call to Order


  President Priscilla M. Haden called the meeting of the West Virginia Board of Education (WVBE) to order at 12:35 p.m. on January 13, 2010, 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, 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 Secretary Robert W. Dunlevy and 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. Approval of Agenda


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


III. State Budget


Mr. Mike McKown, Budget Director, West Virginia State Budget Office, and Mr. Mark Muchow, Deputy Secretary, West Virginia Department of Revenue, provided an update regarding the State of West Virginia’s financial status and budget.


IV. Education Performance Audit Report for the McDowell County School District


Dr. Kenna R. Seal (distributed information), Director, Office of Education Performance Audits (OEPA), reported that the OEPA conducted a progress on-site review of the McDowell County School District and Mount View High School during May 2009.  The OEPA conducted the review to determine the county’s progress in meeting the conditions for return or partial return of local control.  This review determined that a full county audit was necessary.  A full education performance audit of the McDowell County School System was conducted November 17-29, 2009.  Ms. Suzette Cook, Superintendent, McDowell County Schools, and Mr. Mike Mitchem, President, McDowell County Board of Education, addressed the Board regarding the on-site review.  Mr. Bill Elswick, Executive Director, WVDE Office of School Facilities, addressed questions regarding facility issues.


V. Legal and/or Personnel Matters


As the presiding officer, President Haden requested a motion to enter into Executive Session, pursuant to W. Va. Code '6-9A-4(b)(2)(A) (personnel exception), to discuss the performance of specific individuals employed as administrators in the central office and at Mount View High School in McDowell County.


Upon motion by Mrs. Manchin, seconded by Ms. Phillips, and unanimously carried, the Board, following a brief break, entered into Executive Session at 2:17 p.m.


VI. Return from Executive Session


The Board returned from Executive Session at 3:00 p.m. at which time President Haden announced that no action was taken and no decisions were made.


VII. Education Performance Audit Report for the McDowell County School District

(Continued)


Upon recommendation of Dr. Seal and a motion by Mrs. Manchin, seconded by Dr. Johnson, the Board unanimously returned partial control to the McDowell County Board of Education in the following areas:


finance,

curriculum,

transportation,

the establishment and operation of a school calendar, and

other decision making authorities of the local board of education according to the statutory provisions and West Virginia Board of Education policies;


and, due to deficiencies remaining in personnel, the lack of resolve to update county policies, and facility issues, intervention was continued in the areas of:


personnel,

facilities, and

policy development.


and, as recommended by the OEPA, the Board began the next phase of the transition for McDowell County to regain full local control and directed that: 


the McDowell County Board of Education receive training and support from the Executive Director of the West Virginia School Boards Association;


capacity be developed in the personnel department to ensure that all elements of the personnel process are followed according to State Code and West Virginia Board of Education policies and a system of personnel accountability be in place for the personnel functions;


capacity be developed for school facility effective and efficient operations and maintenance.  It is further recommended that the county be directed to utilize the West Virginia Department of Education, Office of School Facilities, to assist the county in organizing a preventive maintenance program.  Additionally the county must develop a priority list of maintenance projects and the county superintendent provide periodic progress updates to the West Virginia Board of Education and the McDowell County Board of Education;


all county policies be updated to meet current State Code and West Virginia Board of Education policies; and,


the McDowell County administrators utilize the West Virginia Department of Education System of Support to improve student achievement, particularly at the secondary level through improved strategic planning.


and, as recommended by the OEPA, the Board issued McDowell County Conditional Approval status and directed that an Exit Agreement between the Board and the McDowell County Board of Education be initiated.  (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment A and addenda.) 


VIII. Initial Individual School Education Performance Audit Report for

Warm Springs Intermediate School, Morgan County

 

Dr. Seal reported that an announced on-site review (five days in advance) was conducted at Warm Springs Intermediate School on November 5, 2009.


Upon the recommendation of Dr. Seal and a motion by Ms. Phillips, seconded by Mrs. Cook, the Board unanimously directed that Warm Springs Intermediate School revise its Five-Year Strategic Plan within 30 days and correct the finding noted in the report by the next accreditation cycle.  (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment B.) 


IX. Initial Individual School Education Performance Audit Report for

Hillsboro Elementary School, Pocahontas County


Dr. Seal reported that an announced on-site review (five days in advance) was conducted at Hillsboro Elementary School on October 15, 2009.


Upon the recommendation of Dr. Seal and a motion by Ms. Phillips, seconded by Mrs. Cook, the Board unanimously directed that Hillsboro Elementary School revise its Five-Year Strategic Plan within 30 days and correct the findings noted in the report by the next accreditation cycle.  (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment C.) 


X. Announcement of Innovation Zone Schools Designation as per Policy 3236


Ms. Donna Peduto, Coordinator, WVDE Office of Organizational Effectiveness and Leadership, and Dr. Ronald E, Duerring (distributed listing of recommendations), Superintendent of Kanawha County Schools and chair of the WVBE’s Innovation Zone Selection Committee, provided an overview of the application review process and presented the committee’s recommendations for designation as innovation zones for the Board’s consideration.  Dr. Johnson distributed an attachment containing waiver requests of Board policy and West Virginia Code submitted by the applicants being recommended for approval.  


Upon motion by Mr. Linger, seconded by Dr. Johnson and unanimously carried, the Board accepted the recommendations (19 applications) of the Innovation Zone Selection Committee.  (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment D.) 


XI. Policy 4110, Attendance


Ms. Rebecca Derenge, Coordinator, WVDE Office of Institutional Education Programs, presented Policy 4110 for the Board’s consideration.  (Copy appended to Official Minutes of January 14, 2010, at Attachment I.) 


XII. Future Meetings

The next regular meeting of the Board will be held January 14, 2010, in Charleston, West Virginia.  


XIII. Adjournment


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


   Minutes approved by the Board on February 11, 2010.




_______________________________________________

Priscilla M. Haden, President




_______________________________________________

Robert W. Dunlevy, Secretary


   Minutes were recorded by

         Virginia M. Harris

       Secretary to the Board. 

        Wvbeminutes1/13/10










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