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MINUTES
WEST VIRGINIA BOARD OF EDUCATION
Board Conference Room
Capitol Building 6, Room 353
1900 Kanawha Boulevard, East
Charleston, West Virginia
January 8, 2014
I. Call to Order
Following the welcome, Pledge of Allegiance and introductions, President Gayle C. Manchin called the meeting of the West Virginia Board of Education (WVBE) to order at 10:06 a.m. on January 8, 2014, in the Board Conference Room, Capitol Building 6, Room 353, Charleston, West Virginia.
The following members were present: President Manchin, Vice President Michael I. Green, Secretary Robert W. Dunlevy, Tina H. Combs, Thomas W. Campbell, Lloyd G. JacksonII, and William M. White, and ex officio James B. Phares, State Superintendent of Schools. Members absent were L. Wade Linger Jr. and ex officios Paul L. Hill, Chancellor, West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission, and James L. Skidmore, Chancellor, West Virginia Council for Community and Technical College Education.
II. Recognitions
President Manchin recognized Mr. Wesley A. Holland, Manager of the Tools for School program, in the WVDE Office of Instructional Technology (Mr. Holland passed January 7, 2014) for his efforts to ensure that the students of West Virginia had stateof-the-art technology designed to engage their learning process and prepare them for their world post-graduation.
The Board recognized the following 2013 National Blue Ribbon Schools: Monongah Middle School (Marion County) - Superintendent Gary Price and Principal Robert Moore; and Panther Creek Elementary (Nicholas County) - Superintendent Beverly Kingery and Principal Angela Amick.
III. Approval of Agenda
President Manchin requested that New Business item B. WVBE Personnel inclusive of Appointment of an Executive Director for RESA 4 and Update on State Superintendent Search be moved to follow the approval of the agenda and called for other modifications or a motion to approve the agenda with the requested change.
Dr. White moved that the agenda be approved as modified. Mr. Dunlevy seconded the motion and upon the call for the question the motion was carried unanimously.
IV. WVBE Personnel inclusive of Appointment of an
Executive Director for RESA 4 and Update on State Superintendent Search
President Manchin provided an update regarding that status of the State Superintendent search.
President Manchin requested Ms. Beverly Kingery, Superintendent of Nicholas County Schools, address the Board regarding the hiring of an Executive Director of RESA 4. Superintendent Kingery announced David A. Warvel as the RESA 4 interview committee's recommendation to the Board for hiring as Executive Director of RESA 4.
Mr. Campbell moved that David A. Warvel be hired as Executive Director of RESA 4 effective February 17, 2014, at an annual salary of $94,832.00. Dr. White seconded the motion and upon the call for the question the motion was carried unanimously.
Mr. Dunlevy moved that the Board's personnel matters found in the attachment be approved. Dr. White seconded the motion and upon the call for the question the motion was carried unanimously. (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment Mc and addendum.)
President Manchin, assisted by Ms. Donna Hoylman Peduto, WVBE Director of Operations, provided the following information regarding the search process: the RFP has resulted in two bids which were opened January 7; interviews and oral presentations must be scheduled with a decision regarding the hiring of a search firm to be made following the interviews/oral presentations.
V. Resolution in Support of Cedar Lakes
Ms. Peduto read a resolution in support of Cedar Lakes for the Board's consideration. At its regular meeting on December 11, 2013, the WVBE heard a presentation on behalf of the Cedar Lakes Foundation by Senator Mitch Carmichael, Delegate Steve Westfall, and Dr. Stan Hopkins wherein a plan for the selfsustainability of Cedar Lakes Conference Center was outlined. As a result of that presentation, the WVBE has developed a resolution in support of the self-sustainability plan.
Dr. White moved that the WVBE Resolution in Support of the Sustainability of Cedar Lakes Conference Center be approved. Mr. Campbell seconded the motion and upon the call for the question the motion was carried unanimously. (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment A.)
VI. Governor's Education Agenda
President Manchin, Ms. Peduto (via PowerPoint presentation, updated implementation chart, and implementation timeline - attached to minutes), and members of the Board, provided an update regarding progress toward accomplishing the Governor's education reform agenda including the WVBE Commission on School District Governance and Administration (Mr. Campbell); using RESAs more efficiently; investigate Project 24 (Mr. Green); utilizing cross counseling; Preparation for Tomorrow/advanced career courses; teacher certification/professional preparation accreditation to support reading on grade level by the end of the third grade (President Manchin and Mr. Jackson); professional development so support reading on grade level by the end of the third grade; early literacy to support reading on grade level of the end of the third grade; professional development; leadership capacity development; and Re-imagining Instructional Time (Dr. White). At Dr. White's request Mr. Joe Panetta, Assistant State Superintendent, Division of Student Support Services, addressed the Board regarding the school calendar policy. (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment O.)
VII. Superintendent Reports
Superintendent Phares (via PowerPoint presentation), assisted by Mr. Juan D'Brot, Executive Director, WVDE Office of Assessment and Accountability, and Ms. Liza Cordeiro, Executive Director, WVDE Office of Communications, provided reports regarding WVDE midyear cuts, presentation to Joint Standing Committee on Education, Legislative Oversight Commission on Education Accountability, National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) (Mr. D'Brot), outreach plan for NAEP and next steps (Ms. Cordeiro). (PowerPoint presentation attached to Official Minutes, Attachment P.)
VIII. Chancellor Reports
Chancellor Hill and Chancellor Skidmore were unable to attend the meeting.
IX. RESA Liaison Report
Ms. Jane Lynch, Executive Director of RESA 8 and WVBE RESA Liaison, provided a report regarding a number of ongoing initiatives.
X. Office of Institutional Education Programs
Dr. Fran Warsing, Superintendent, Mr. Jacob Green, Executive Director, and Ms. Tonya Johnson (distributed updated information), Transition Specialist, WVDE Office of Institutional Education Programs, provided an update regarding the transition services model for the transition from juvenile institutions back to public schools in West Virginia. (Copies appended to Official Minutes, Attachments B-1, B2 and addendum.)
XI. Break
President Manchin called for a break for lunch at 12:07 p.m.
XII. Call to Order
President Manchin called the meeting back to order at 12:58 p.m.
XIII. Capacity Building for Priority Schools and Intervention Counties
Mr. Ted Mattern, System Support Liaison, Office of the State Superintendent, provided information regarding support services provided to selected priority schools and the intervention counties.
XIV. Status of Preston County Progress Addressing OEPA Recommendations
Found in the November 2012 Audit Report of Grant County Schools
Executive Session
Mr. Rick Hicks, Superintendent of Preston County Schools, provided a status report of progress made in addressing OEPA recommendations found in the November 2012 Audit Report of Preston County Schools.
Mr. Green moved, in accordance with W. Va. Code §18-2E-5(k)(1), "Any discussion by the state board of schools to be subject to an on-site review or dates for which on-site reviews will be conducted, W. Va. Code §6-9A-4(b)(2)(B)(9), "To consider matters involving or affecting the purchase, sale or lease of property, advance construction planning, the investment of public funds, etc.", and W. Va. Code §6-9A-4(b)(2)(A), "Matters arising from the appointment, employment, retirement, promotion, transfer, demotion, disciplining, resignation, discharge, dismissal or compensation of a public officer or employee, or prospective public officer or employee unless the public officer or employee or prospective public officer or employee requests an open meeting" that the Board move into executive session. Mrs. Combs seconded the motion and upon the call for the question the motion was carried unanimously. The Board entered into executive session at 1:11 p.m.
XV. Return from Executive Session
Mr. Campbell moved that the Board return from Executive Session with no action taken. Dr. White seconded the motion and upon the call of the question the motion was carried unanimously. The Board returned from Executive Session at 1:48 p.m.
XVI. Consent Agenda
Dr. White moved that the Consent Agenda be approved. Mr. Dunlevy seconded the motion and upon the call for the question the motion was carried unanimously. (Copies appended to Official Minutes, Attachments C through K.)
· Approved minutes of December 11 and 18, 2013, meetings (Attachment C)
· Received information regarding WVDE Personnel Matters (Attachment D)
· Approved one first time request for a waiver of WVBE policy (Attachment E)
· Received, per W. Va. Code §18A-4-7a(l)(3), Transfer of Person Employed in a Professional Position after the Twentieth Day Prior to the Beginning of the Instructional Term, notification from Wirt County Schools (Attachment F)
· Approved Employment of Substitute Teachers in Areas of Critical Need policies for Greenbrier, Kanawha, Logan, McDowell and Wirt County Schools (Attachment G)
· Approved Policy 2417, Programs of Study for Limited English Proficiency Students (Attachments H-1 and H-2)
· Approved West Virginia Secondary School Activities Commission (WVSSAC) Series 2, Athletics, Provisions Governing Eligibility (Attachment I)
· Appointed Ms. Valerie Rinehart to serve a three year term as member of the Educator Preparation Program Review Board (Attachment J)
· Approved the revised educator preparation program submitted by Marshall University for English Education (5-Adult) (Attachment K).
XVII. Office of Education Performance Audits
Director's Information
Dr. Gus Penix, Director of the Office of Education Performance Audits (OEPA), provided brief remarks regarding current initiatives.
XVIII. Individual School Education Performance Audit Report
for Spring Mills Primary School, Berkeley County
Dr. Penix (distributed information) reported that an announced on-site review (five days in advance) was conducted at Spring Mills Primary School November 19, 2013.
Upon the recommendation of Dr. Penix, Mrs. Combs moved that the Board direct Spring Mills Primary School to correct the findings noted in the report by the next accreditation cycle and revise the five-year strategic plan. Mr. Green seconded the motion and upon the call for the question the motion was carried unanimously. (Copy appended to Office Minutes, Attachment L.)
XIX. McDowell County Temporary Bus Transportation Route Changes
Mr. Charles K. Heinlein, Deputy State Superintendent of Schools, presented temporary bus transportation route changes for McDowell County for the Board's consideration. Due to a recent landslide at Iaeger Elementary School, the McDowell County Board of Education voted on Monday, December 9, 2013, to temporarily move the students and staff to the campuses of Bradshaw Elementary and River View High Schools. This move will result in temporary bus transportation route changes that require the Board's approval.
Mr. Campbell moved, in accordance with WVBE Policy 4336, that the temporary bus transportation route changes for students attending Iaeger Elementary School be approved for the remainder of the current school year and that McDowell County return if a permanent solution is not secured prior to the beginning of the new school year. Dr. White seconded the motion and upon the call for the question the motion was carried unanimously. (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment M.)
XX. Recess
President Manchin requested the meeting to be recessed and to reconvene on January 9, 2014, at 9:00 a.m. in the same location. Mr. Jackson moved that the meeting be recessed. Mr. Campbell seconded the motion and upon the call for the question the motion was carried unanimously. The meeting was recessed at 2:05 p.m.
XXI. Reconvene
President Manchin reconvened the meeting of January 8, 2014, at 9:00 a.m. on January 9, 2014, in the Board Conference Room, Capitol Building 6, Room 353, Charleston, West Virginia.
The following members were present: President Manchin, Vice President Michael I. Green, Tina H. Combs, Thomas W. Campbell, Lloyd G. Jackson II, and William M. White, and ex officio James B. Phares, State Superintendent of Schools. Members absent were Robert W. Dunlevy, L. Wade Linger Jr. and ex officios Paul L. Hill, Chancellor, West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission, and James L. Skidmore, Chancellor, West Virginia Council for Community and Technical College Education.
XXII. Follow-up regarding Reports to the Governor and Legislature
President Manchin requested Mr. Campbell lead discussion regarding the WVBE Commission on School District Governance and Administration's recommendations. Mr. Campbell introduced commission members Mr. Doug Lambert, Superintendent of Pendleton County Schools, and Ms. Sallie Dalton, Superintendent of Greenbrier County Schools, and Mr. J.T. Mowery, Treasurer of Pendleton County Schools and Mr. David McClure, Treasurer of Pendleton County Schools, and called upon Ms. Peduto to provide information regarding the recommendations. Ms. Peduto provided an overview of funding flexibility in the State Aid formula recommendation and requested that Mr. Lambert address the Board regarding the commission's recommendation.
Following discussion it was determined that Superintendents Lambert and Dalton and selected county school treasurers will work with the commission to provide a report to the Board next month regarding options the Board can pursue to provide funding flexibility. President Manchin requested that the county boards be kept abreast of details as they evolve.
XXIII. Break
President Manchin called for a break to attend the Governor's Teacher of the Year awards ceremony at 9:47 a.m.
XXIV. Call to Order
President Manchin called the meeting back to order at 10:58 a.m.
XXV. Follow-up regarding Reports to the Governor and Legislature (Continued)
and WVBE Legislative Agenda
Ms. Peduto and Mr. Green provided brief remarks regarding the West Virginia Digital Learning report (conducted by the Metiri Group) and introduced Chip Slaven, Esq. (distributed report), Senior Advocacy Associate, Alliance for Excellent Education, who provided an overview of the report. Superintendent Phares (distributed information) addressed the Board regarding the A-F School Grading System and provided a summary of selected tables from the 2012 Digest of Education Statistics. Dr. Penix (distributed information) addressed the Board regarding the status of the A-F School Grading System. (Copies appended to Official Minutes, Attachment Q.)
XXVI. Review/Alignment of WVBE Committee Structure
President Manchin requested committee chairs re-evaluation their committees and advise of necessary adjustments.
XXVII. Board Items for Future Consideration
President Manchin requested members advise her (and the Board's secretary) of items to be placed on the February agenda. (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment N.)