MINUTES

WEST VIRGINIA BOARD OF EDUCATION

Board Conference Room

Capitol Building 6, Room 353

1900 Kanawha Boulevard, East

Charleston, West Virginia

March 11, 2010



I. Call to Order


  President Priscilla M. Haden called the meeting of the West Virginia Board of Education (WVBE) to order at 9:00 a.m. on March 11, 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, 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 officio Steven L. Paine, State Superintendent of Schools.  Student representative in attendance was Tiffany Sisson of Buffalo, West Virginia, who attends Buffalo High School.  Members absent were 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 as amended on March 10, 2010, whereby President Haden moved item XII.   Reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) – (Information/Action) from the March 10, 2010 agenda to the March 11, 2010 agenda (this item will be taken up under Superintendent’s Reports).  


III. Consent Agenda


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


Meeting minutes of February 11, 2010  (Attachment A)


Amendment to the Gilmer County Comprehensive Educational Facilities Plan to include the construction of two new elementary schools, one in the Letter Gap/Grass Run area and the other between Sand Fork and Glenville on State Route 5 (the original plan had included four new elementary schools) (Attachment B)


Amendment to the Raleigh County Comprehensive Educational Facilities Plan to include the construction of a new Marsh Fork Elementary School (Attachment C)


Amendment to the Taylor County Comprehensive Educational Facilities Plan to include roof replacement at Taylor County Middle School (Attachment D)


Ten-Year Comprehensive Educational Facilities Plans (CEFP) for Hancock, Marshall and Tyler Counties  (Attachment E)


One request for a waiver (partial and/or full) of attendance at the 2009-2010 West Virginia Principal’s Leadership Academy for New Principals  (Attachment F)


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


Policy 2520.19, 21st Century Advisor/Advisee 5-12 Content Standards and Objectives for West Virginia Schools, specifically the advisor/advisee standards, objectives and indicators for grades 5 through 8, for placement on public comment for 30 days  (Attachment H)


Policy 3233, Establishment and Operation of Regional Education Service Agencies, for placement on public comment for 30 days  (Attachment I)


Revised Individual School Strategic Plans – Warm Springs Intermediate School, Morgan County and Hillsboro Elementary School, Pocahontas County  (Attachment J).


IV. Reports


■ Technology Committee.  Mr. Green (distributed information) and Mr. Linger provided a report regarding a discussion with Department staff regarding technology initiatives/needs.  Upon completion of the report, Mr. Green and Mr. Linger stated that a Board technology committee was unnecessary at this time, they will continue to serve as the Board’s technology experts, and will provide reports to the Board as events warrant.  President Haden provided clarification regarding the process to be used to address technology issues.  Discussion ensued regarding the role and function of the non-committee and the need for inclusion of all stakeholders.  (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment Mc.)  


■  High School Redesign Committee.  Ms. Phillips (distributed information), assisted by Dr. Stan Hopkins, Assistant State Superintendent, WVDE Division of Technical and Adult Education Services, provided an update regarding the high school redesign initiative.  It was the consensus of the Board that Dr. Hopkins proceed with the high school redesign concepts as presented in the attachment. (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment N.)  

■  Wellness Committee including NASBE Obesity Prevention Project Grant.  Mrs. Manchin (distributed information) provided an update from the WVDE’s Office of Child Nutrition, the Board’s Wellness Committee, and the West Virginia Healthy Lifestyles Coalition.  Mrs. Manchin also provided information regarding the NASBE Obesity Prevention Project Grant and reports issued by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.  (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment O.)  


■  Board Member/Committee Reports.  Mrs. Manchin provided information regarding: 1) SREB initiatives and legislative efforts; 2) meeting of stakeholders regarding community technical college education; 3) issuance of federal grants and accountability; and 4) Globaloria. 


V. Break


President Haden called for a break at 10:12 a.m.  


VI. Call to Order


President Haden called the meeting back to order at 10:28 a.m.


VII. Reports  (Continue)


■  Report from Student Representative.  Ms. Sisson addressed the Board regarding SkillsUSA and the importance of career and technical education.  


■  Board Member/Committee Reports (Continued).  Mrs. Cook attended a meeting of the Board’s Wellness Committee.  Dr. Johnson attended a meeting of the West Virginia Center for Professional Development, Governor’s Jobs Cabinet sub-committee meeting regarding charter schools, provided information regarding the upcoming NASBE Legislative Conference and requested members notify President Haden of nominations for NASBE recognition awards and/or leadership positions that occur in October.  Dr. Johnson also notified members that he has scheduled a meeting of the Board’s RESA Committee for April 16 at 9:30 a.m. at RESA 3 in Dunbar.  President Haden attended an NCLC (Education Commission of the States) meeting, attended a meeting regarding the 528 Plan, judged a “We The People” contest, met with the President of West Virginia University (WVU), Dr. James P. Clements, and his staff regarding the Global 21 initiative and teacher preparation, met with the Dean of the WVU Law School regarding the writing skills of West Virginia students, attended West Virginia School Board Association meeting (Dr. Johnson requested that the budget forecast document that President Haden received be provided to members), attended a Five Promises meeting, read to a kindergarten class, attended an Educational Broadcasting meeting, and met with Dr. Dee Hopkins, Dean, WVU College of Education.      

 

State Superintendent’s Report.  Superintendent Paine presented Department personnel items for the Board’s information; provided brief updates regarding Fayette, Grant, Lincoln, McDowell, Mingo, and Preston Counties; provided an update regarding West Virginia’s Race to the Top application; provided an update regarding the Common Core Standards initiative and requested the Board take this matter up for action at the Board’s May meeting; provided information regarding the National Governors Association planning grant; announced the receipt of a United States Department of Education improvement grant in the amount of $22 million; announced support of an I3 grant proposal to be submitted by/for Globaloria and stated that  county boards of education are encouraged to pursue innovation grants; addressed (distributed information and assisted by Dr. Jan Barth, Special Assignment, WVDE Division of Curriculum an Instructional Services) the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), President Haden requested that a letter of support be prepared on the behalf of the Board regarding the reauthorization of ESEA; (assisted by Ms. Brenda Williams, Executive Director, WVDE Office of Instructional Technology) provided an update regarding the National Educational Technology Plan; distributed and provided a brief overview of a white paper prepared entitled “Performance Counts: Assessment Systems that Support High-Quality Learning”, authored by Linda Darling-Hammond (it was the consensus of the Board that Superintendent Paine proceed as appropriate with regard to assessment); announced the following topics for addition to the next proposal for Race to the Top funds:  Charter Schools, Innovation Zones, career ladders, growth model, annual evaluation of teachers and the removal of principals from low performing schools (Dr. Johnson is interested in looking at how schools are to be held accountable, the role and function of the Office of Educational Performance Audits, and the Board’s involvement in the improvement process); and, (distributed information and assisted by Ms. Donna Peduto, Coordinator, WVDE Office of Organizational Effectiveness and Leadership, and Ms. Betty Jo Jordan, Executive Assistant to the State Superintendent) provided clarification of waiver requests of W. Va. Code (total of six) and WVBE policy (total of 31) for Innovation Zone projects.  (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment K and addenda.)  


VIII. Lease Purchase Agreement on behalf of Mingo County Schools


Ms. Heather Deskins, General Counsel to the WVBE and WVDE, presented the lease purchase agreement on behalf of Mingo County Schools for the Board’s consideration.  In December 2009, the WVBE approved a resolution for and on behalf of the Board of Education of the County of Mingo (the “district”) approving the lease purchase agreement whereby United Bank, Inc., leases certain property to the district pursuant to a lease purchase agreement in an amount not to exceed $2,000,000; and authorizing the execution of the lease purchase agreement and such other documents and certificates as may be necessary to carry out the transactions contemplated by the lease purchase agreement.  At the time the resolution was approved the stated interest rate was 0.50%.  However, it has been determined that the actual interest rate will be 0.75%.


Upon motion by Mr. Dunlevy, seconded by Mr. Linger, the Board unanimously approved the interest rate of 0.75%. 


IX. WVBE Personnel Matters including the Suspension of Employment

of Substitute Aide at the West Virginia Schools for the Deaf and the Blind

and Acceptance of Resignation of Teacher under Suspension

at the West Virginia Schools for the Deaf and the Blind


Upon motion by Dr. Johnson, seconded by Ms. Phillips, the Board unanimously approved the Board’s personnel items including the suspension of employment of substitute aide at the West Virginia Schools for the Deaf and the Blind and accepted the resignation of a teacher under suspension at the West Virginia Schools for the Deaf and the Blind.  (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment L.)


X. 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.  Mr. Linger questioned the Board’s response to Governor Manchin’s remarks of March 10. 2010.  President Haden responded that a special meeting of the Board is projected to occur following the release of the evaluation results of the RTTT application; Board members are to provide topics for placement on the special meeting agenda to President Haden, Superintendent Paine, or Dr. Jack McClanahan.   (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment M.)  


XI. Future Meetings

President Haden requested that the Board move the July 9-10, 2010, meeting to June 8-9, 2010.  The purpose of the date change is to accommodate members attending National Association of State Boards of Education (NASBE) Finance, Board of Directors, Governmental Affairs, and Study Group meetings.


It was the consensus of the Board that the June 9-10, 2010, meeting be moved to June 8‑9, 2010.


The next regular meeting of the Board will be held April 14-15, 2010, in Monongalia County, West Virginia.  


XII. Adjournment


President Haden declared the meeting adjourned at 12:31 p.m.


   Minutes approved by the Board on April 15, 2010.




_______________________________________________

Priscilla M. Haden, President



_______________________________________________

Robert W. Dunlevy, Secretary


   Minutes were recorded by

         Virginia M. Harris

       Secretary to the Board. 

        WVBEMinutes3/11/10









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