MINUTES
WEST VIRGINIA BOARD OF EDUCATION
Board Conference Room
Capitol Building 6, Room 353
1900 Kanawha Boulevard, East
Charleston, West Virginia
March 13, 2013
I.
Call to Order
Following the welcome, introductions and Pledge of Allegiance, President L. Wade
Linger Jr. called the meeting of the West Virginia Board of Education (WVBE) to order at 8:41
a.m. on March 13, 2013, in the Board Conference Room, Capitol Building 6, Room 353,
Charleston, West Virginia.
The following members were present: President Linger, Vice President Gayle C.
Manchin, Secretary Robert W. Dunlevy, Tina H. Combs (via telephone), Thomas W. Campbell,
Michael I. Green, Lloyd G. Jackson II, and William M. White, and ex officios James B. Phares,
State Superintendent of Schools, and James L. Skidmore, Chancellor, West Virginia Council for
Community and Technical College Education. Member absent was ex officio Paul L. Hill,
Chancellor, West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission. Also present was student
representative Aishwarya Saluja of Falling Waters, West Virginia, who attends Hedgesville High
School (Berkeley County).
II.
Delegations
Ms. Shirley McGraw and Ms. Carolyn Arritt, citizens of Fayette County, addressed the
Board regarding a number of education concerns.
III.
Approval of Agenda
President Linger requested that Consent Agenda item 8. Resolution on Behalf of the
Gilmer County Board of Education Authorizing a Lease Purchase Agreement for Copiers with
U.S. Bank Equipment Finance (Attachment Mc) be removed from the agenda and called for a
motion to approve the agenda as amended. Mrs. Manchin moved that the agenda be approved as
amended. Dr. White seconded the motion and upon the call for the question the motion was
carried unanimously.
IV.
Update on West Virginia Schools' Safety
Dr. Amelia Courts, Assistant State Superintendent, Division of Educator Quality and
System Support, introduced Dr. Mark A. Manchin (distributed information), Executive Director,
School Building Authority of West Virginia, who provided an update regarding school safety.
(Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment Q.)
-2-
V.
WVBE Personnel Matters including Hiring of WVBE Director of Operations
Executive Session
President Linger provided information regarding the posting of the position of WVBE
Director of Operations and requested a motion to convene into executive session to interview
prospective employees as provided in W. Va. Code §6-9A-4(b)(2)(A) [personnel exception].
Mrs. Manchin moved that the Board enter into executive session. Dr. White seconded the
motion and upon the call for the question the motion was carried unanimously. The Board
entered into executive session at 9:16 a.m. Candidate one was called into the executive session
at 9:35 a.m. Candidate two was called into executive session at 10:03 a.m. Candidate three was
called into executive session at 10:24 a.m.
VI.
Return from Executive Session
Mr. Campbell moved that the Board return from executive session. Mr. Dunlevy
seconded the motion and upon the call for the question the motion was carried unanimously.
The Board returned from executive session at 10:55 a.m. at which time President Linger
announced that no decisions were made or action taken.
VII.
Break
President Linger called for a break at 10:56 a.m.
VIII.
Call to Order
President Linger called the meeting back to order at 11:03 a.m.
IX.
WVBE Personnel Matters including Hiring of WVBE Director of Operations
President Linger called for a motion to hire a Director of Operations and approve the
Board's personnel attachment.
Dr. White moved that Donna Peduto be hired as the Board's Director of Operations and
that the Board's personnel attachment be approved. Mr. Green seconded the motion and upon
the call for the question the motion was carried unanimously. (Copy appended to Official
Minutes, Attachment A.)
X.
Governor's Education Agenda inclusive of Discussion of Appointment
of Members to the WVBE Commission on School District Governance
and Administration and Approval of Commission Charter
President Linger, assisted by Ms. Donna Peduto (distributed information), WVBE
Director of Operations, led discussion regarding the Governor's education agenda, the
appointment of members to the WVBE Commission on School District Governance and
Administration, and the Commission's charter.
-3Project 24. Mr. Jackson introduced Mr. Chip Slaven, Counselor to the President and
Senior Advocacy Advisor, Alliance for Excellent Education, who presented information
regarding Project 24. Project 24, a free service, addresses systemic planning around the effective
use of technology and digital learning to achieve the goal of "career and college readiness" for all
students. Ms. Saluja addressed the Board regarding the use of technology in and out of the
classroom.
Southern Regional Education Board's Preparation for Tomorrow. Mr. Jackson
introduced Dr. Gene Bottoms (distributed information), Senior Vice President, Southern
Regional Education Board (SREB), who provided information regarding SREB's Preparation for
Tomorrow program. This program is SREB's effort to develop more rigorous career/technical
pathway programs of study. (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment R.)
Following discussion President Linger called for a motion to approve the commission's
charter, that Mr. Campbell be appointed as Chairperson, and that he be given the authority to
proceed with the appointment of members to the commission.
Mrs. Manchin moved that the Board approve the Charter forming the Commission on
School District Governance and Administration, that Mr. Campbell be appointed as Chairperson
of the commission and that President Linger be given the authority to appoint other commission
members as set for in the resolution. Mr. Jackson seconded the motion and upon the call for the
question the motion was carried unanimously. (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment
S.)
Ms. Peduto (distributed information and PowerPoint presentation) and President Linger
provided updates regarding key provisions of the Governor's request to the Board regarding cross
counseling, teacher certification/teacher preparation program accreditation, and utilizing RESAs
more effectively. (Copies appended to Official Minutes, Attachment T.) President Linger
departed the meeting.
XI.
Director’s Information
Vice President Manchin took charge of the meeting. Dr. Gus Penix, Director of the
Office of Education Performance Audits (OEPA), provided an update regarding OEPA
initiatives. (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment B.)
XII.
School District Approval Status and School Accreditation Status
February 2013 Report of Ratings
Dr. Penix stated that an announced on-site review was conducted at Hedgesville
Elementary School February 13, 2013.
Upon the recommendation of Dr. Penix, Mr. Dunlevy moved that Hedgesville
Elementary School be granted Full Accreditation status. Dr. White seconded the motion and
upon the call for the question the motion was carried unanimously. (Copy appended to Official
Minutes, Attachment C.)
-4XIII.
Capacity Building for Low Performing Schools, Intervention Counties
and the West Virginia Schools for the Deaf and the Blind (WVSDB)
Mr. Ted Mattern, System Support Liaison, Office of the State Superintendent, provided
information regarding capacity building for a number of low performing schools and the
intervention counties.
XIV.
Consent Agenda
Mr. Campbell moved that the Consent Agenda be approved as previously amended.
Mr. Dunlevy seconded the motion and upon the call for the question the motion was carried
unanimously. (Copies appended to Official Minutes, Attachments D through M.)

Issued Central City Elementary School Full Accreditation status and
Huntington Middle School Temporary Accreditation status (Attachment D)

Issued Magnolia High School Distinction Accreditation status and Paden City
High School Full Accreditation status (Attachment E)

Approved meeting minutes of February13, 2013 (Attachment F)

Approved amendment to the Logan County Comprehensive Educational
Facilities Plan (2010-2020) to include the transfer of the fourth grade students
at Man Elementary School to their community schools of Buffalo Elementary
School and South Man Elementary School. Also to be included is the
relocation of Pre-K students from South Man Elementary to Man Elementary.
This amendment will eliminate shuttle bus transportation for these students.
(Attachment G)

Approved Employment of Substitute Teachers in Areas of Critical Need policy
for Hardy County Schools (Attachment H)

Approved one first time request for a waiver of WVBE policy (Attachment I)

Approved content standards and objectives developed for three elective courses
to be offered in Mingo County high schools (Attachment J)

Approved Policy 2520.13, Common Core Content Standards for Career and
Technical Education in West Virginia Schools (Attachment K)

Approved Policy 2330, Nonpublic School Accreditation, for placement on
public comment for 30 days (Attachment L)

Approved eight regional compacts for Next/Gen content standards and
objectives for professional development (Attachment M).
-5XV.
Appointments to WVBE Statutory Units/Liaisons and
Reorganization of Presidential Committees
Vice President Manchin requested that Ms. Peduto (distributed information), provide
information regarding the reorganized Presidential Committees and WVBE statutory
units/liaisons. Dr. White requested an item be placed on the June agenda for a presentation
regarding his visits to the RESAs.
Following discussion, Vice President Manchin called for a motion to approve the
appointments and reorganized Presidential Committees and committee membership.
Mr. Campbell moved that the appointments and reorganized Presidential Committees and
committee membership be approved. Mr. Jackson seconded the motion and upon the call for the
question the motion was carried unanimously. (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachments
U.)
XVI.
Policy 1340, Rules and Procedures for Administrative
Hearings and Appeals
Ms. Heather Hutchens Deskins, General Counsel to the WVBE and WVDE, presented
Policy 1340 for the Board's consideration. Policy 1340 is being revised to incorporate the intent
of W. Va. Code §18A-4-8e which establishes a School Bus Operator Review Panel and sets forth
that language incorporating such panel into the rules and procedures for administrative hearings.
Other changes are being recommended to update the policy to reflect current policy and/or
statutory changes.
Dr. White moved that Policy 1340 be placed on public comment for 30 days. Mr. Green
seconded the motion and upon the call for the question the motion was carried unanimously.
(Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment N.)
XVII.
State Superintendent’s Report
Superintendent Phares presented WVDE personnel matters for the Board’s information.
(Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment O.) Superintendent Phares tabled the
Legislative Update and Institutions of Higher Education Process of Approval presentation to
April.
XVIII.
Board Items for Future Consideration
Vice President Manchin requested that items mentioned during the meeting be placed on
the appropriate agenda. Dr. White requested that the Board consider a visit to the West Virginia
Schools for the Deaf and the Blind in June. (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment P.)
-6XIX.
Future Meetings
The next regular meeting of the WVBE will be held April 10, 2013, in Charleston, West
Virginia. The meeting will continue on April 11, 2013, in Charleston, West Virginia, if the
agenda is not completed on April 10, 2013.
XX.
Update and Discussion with Counsel regarding
Pending Legal Matters including State of West Virginia Ex Rel.,
James Hicks and Michelle Hicks v. West Virginia Board of Education
and Jorea M. Marple v. West Virginia Board of Education
Ms. Deskins provided a brief update regarding pending legal matters.
XXI.
Adjournment
Vice President Manchin called for a motion to adjourn. Dr. White moved that the
meeting be adjourned. Mr. Campbell seconded the motion and upon the call for the question the
motion was carried unanimously. The meeting was adjourned at 1:46 p.m.
Minutes approved by the Board on April 10, 2013.
______________________________________________
L. Wade Linger Jr., President
______________________________________________
Robert W. Dunlevy, Secretary
Minutes were recorded by
Virginia M. Harris
Secretary to the Board
WVBEMinutes3/13/13