MINUTES

WEST VIRGINIA BOARD OF EDUCATION

Board Conference Room

Capitol Building 6, Room 353

1900 Kanawha Boulevard, East

Charleston, West Virginia

January 14, 2010



I. Call to Order


  President Priscilla M. Haden called the meeting of the West Virginia Board of Education (WVBE) to order at 9:03 a.m. on January 14, 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 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 Ben Adams of Charleston who attends Capital High School.  Members absent were Secretary Robert W. Dunlevy and Burma Hatfield.  


II. Delegations


Ms. Beth Rickman (distributed information), Ms. Pamela Morris, and Ms. Ruth Fawley, citizens of Upshur County, addressed the Board regarding a show choir class at Buckhannon‑Upshur High School.  (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment N.)  


III. Approval of Agenda


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


IV. Consent Agenda


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


Meeting minutes of December 9, 10, and 29, 2009  (Attachment A)


Amendment to the Monongalia County Comprehensive Educational Facilities Plan to include the closure of Daybrook Elementary School and the reassignment of those students to Mason-Dixon Elementary School  (Attachment B)


Amendment to the Nicholas County Comprehensive Educational Facilities Plan to include the closure of Beaver Elementary School and Craigsville Elementary School pending funding and construction of a consolidated elementary school (Attachment C)


Amendment to the Tyler County Comprehensive Educational Facilities Plan to include the repair of the exterior stairway and the addition of a secondary evacuation foot bridge at Tyler Consolidated Middle/High School (Attachment D)


Eight requests for a continuation waiver of instructional materials  (Attachment E)


Two requests for waivers (partial and/or full) of attendance at the 2009-2010 West Virginia Principal’s Leadership Academy for New Principals  (Attachment F)


Employment of Substitute Teachers in Areas of Critical Need policies for Cabell, Greenbrier, Harrison, and Kanawha County Schools  (Attachment G)


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


Policy 4110, Attendance  (Attachment I)


Appointment of West Virginia County Board Member Training Standards Review Committee for 2010  (Attachment J).


V. Reports


■  High School Redesign Committee.  Ms. Phillips, assisted by Dr. Stan Hopkins, Assistant State Superintendent, WVDE Division of Technical and Adult Education Services, provided an overview of outcomes of the committee’s December 17 meeting and announced that the next meeting will take place on February 3.  


■  Report from Student Representative.  Mr. Adams (distributed information) addressed the Board regarding his term as student representative to the Board and provided a proposal, as requested by the Superintendent Paine, regarding a state student advisory council.  (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment O.) 


Special Recognition ~ Ben Adams


President Haden recognized Mr. Adams for his service to the Board as the student representative to the Board during the months of November, December and January.


Board Member/Committee Reports.  Mrs. Manchin reported on her attendance at the following meetings:  Southern Regional Education Board, Center for Professional Development, and Imagination Library Committee, and provided information regarding the Save the Children initiative.  Chancellor Noland joined the meeting.  Mr. Green spoke to the importance of technology in a child’s education through such programs as Globaloria and spoke to funding issues regarding Ambervision (formerly Amberview) as well as other education initiatives and programs and the pursuance of other funding sources.  Mr. Linger provided a report regarding his participation in the January 7 and 8 Innovation Zone Selection Committee meeting and also provided an update (assisted by Mr. Green) regarding broadband (Mr. Linger will provide a more detailed report regarding broadband at the February meeting).  Dr. Johnson attended the following meetings:  Center for Professional Development, Innovation Zone Selection Committee, and NASBE Common Core State Standards Initiative Southern Regional Meeting, provided information regarding a recent meeting of the West Virginia 21st Century Learning First Affiliate, and announced that a meeting of the Board’s RESA Committee will be scheduled. President Haden (distributed information) attended the following meetings:  RESA III, school counselors, High School Redesign, and NASBE Common Core State Standards Initiative Southern Regional Meeting.  (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment P.)


VI. Break


President Haden called for a break at 10:30 a.m.  


VII. Call to Order


President Haden called the meeting back to order at 10:50 a.m.


VIII. Reports  (Continued)


State Superintendent’s Report.  Superintendent Paine presented Department personnel items for the Board’s information; provided brief updates regarding Grant, McDowell (report provided at the January 13 meeting), Mingo, Preston, and Lincoln Counties; provided a report concerning the recent legislative audit report; distributed a copy of the West Virginia portion Education Week’s 2010 Quality Counts report; provided information regarding the Department and Board’s position regarding the school calendar; and (assisted by Dr. Amelia Courts, Executive Director, Office of ESL and International Schools) distributed an informational brochure and provided an update regarding West Virginia’s Race to the Top application.  (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment K and addenda.)


IX. Appointment to the West Virginia Commission

for Professional Teaching Standards (WVCPTS)


Mr. Nathan Estel, Executive Director, WVDE Office of Professional Preparation, requested, per the requirements of Policy 5050, that a member of the WVBE be appointed to serve on the WVCPTS.


Upon motion by Mrs. Manchin, seconded by Dr. Johnson and unanimously carried, the Board appointed Ms. Phillips to a three-year term on the WVCPTS.


X. Sale of West Virginia Schools for the Deaf and

the Blind (WVSDB) Property to the City of Romney


Dr. Jack McClanahan, Deputy Superintendent of Schools, requested the Board’s approval to sale WVSDB property, specifically a .33 acre lot and 11.105 square foot permanent easement for $75,000 to the City of Romney, with a reversionary interest, to place a maintenance building as part of a waste treatment plant.


Upon motion by Ms. Phillips, seconded by Mrs. Manchin, the Board unanimously approved the sale of WVSBD property to the City of Romney for $75,000 with a reversionary interest.  


XI. Approval of a Joint Resolution Authorizing

the WVBE/WVDE’s 403(b) Plan


Mr. Phillip Uy, Assistant Director, WVDE Office of Internal Operations, presented a joint resolution authorizing a WVBE/WVDE 403(b) Plan for the Board’s consideration.  During the past year, Internal Revenue Service code and related regulations have been promulgated to govern various aspects of employer provided 403(b) plans.  Agency authorization is required to bring such a plan into compliance with these newly revised code sections and/or regulations.  The 403(b) Plan is a tax sheltered retirement program whose participation is voluntary by employees and requires no matching contributions or obligations by the employer.  


Upon motion by Ms. Phillips, seconded by Mrs. Cook, the Board unanimously approved the joint resolution authorizing a WVBE/WVDE 403(b) Plan.  (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment L.)


XII. WVBE Personnel Matters


Upon motion by Dr. Johnson, seconded by Mrs. Cook, the Board unanimously approved the Board’s personnel items.  (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment M.)


XIII. Board Items for Future Consideration


President Haden 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 Dr. McClanahan, as soon as possible.  (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment Mc.)  


XIV. Future Meetings


President Haden presented a request on the behalf of the State Superintendent that the July 14-15, 2010, meeting be moved to July 13-14, 2010.


Upon motion by Mrs. Manchin, seconded by Ms. Phillips and unanimously carried, the Board moved its July 14-15, 2010, meeting to July 13-14, 2010.

The next regular meeting of the Board will be held February 10-11, 2010, in Charleston, West Virginia.  


XV. Adjournment


President Haden declared the meeting adjourned at 12:21 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. 

     Wvbeminutes1/14/10









PAGE  



PAGE  - 2 -