MINUTES
WEST VIRGINIA BOARD OF EDUCATION
Capitol Building 7, Capitol Room
1900 Kanawha Boulevard, East
Charleston, West Virginia
January 14, 2015
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 10:12
a.m. on January 14, 2015, in the Capitol Room, Capitol Building 7, 1900 Kanawha Boulevard,
East, Charleston, West Virginia.
The following members were present: President Manchin, Vice President Michael I.
Green, Secretary Tina H. Combs (via telephone), Thomas W. Campbell, Robert W. Dunlevy,
Lloyd G. Jackson II, L. Wade Linger Jr., and William M. White, and ex officio Michael J.
Martirano, State Superintendent of Schools. Members absent were 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
The Board recognized the 2014 Milken Educator Award recipient, Dr. Ernie Adkins,
Principal of Princeton Primary School (Mercer County), and awarded Advanced Placement
Honor Roll status to Mingo, Raleigh, and Ohio County Schools.
III.
Inspiring WV
Mr. Buck Edwards (distributed information), Inspiring WV, provided information
regarding this nonprofit organization that is designed to inspire students to explore
entrepreneurship and other significant careers, ignite a sense of pride in West Virginia, and
empower student for success. (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment M.)
IV.
Delegations
President Manchin announced that: 1) all individuals wishing to address the Board as a
delegation will be given two minutes; and 2) that delegations appearing regarding the science
standards would be heard when the science standards are taken up under New Business and
would be heard prior to discussion and action, if any, regarding the standards. Following this
statement, delegations appearing regarding Fayette County Schools/Collins Middle School were:
Ms. Kristi Atha-Rader (provided remarks for the minutes), Mr. Jason Crouch, Mr. Joseph
Dangerfield, Ms. Shaunna Cole (distributed information), Ms. Erica Stewart, Ms. Denise
Smithson (distributed information), Ms. Janet Proctor, Mr. Geoff Heeter, and Ms. Olivia Tygert.
(Copies appended to Official Minutes, Attachment Mc.)
-2V.
Education Considerations for the West Virginia Legislature's 2015 Regular Session
Senator Dave Sypolt (remarks attached to the minutes), Chair of Senate Education,
Delegate Amanda Pasdon, Chair of House Education, Ms. Kathi McCormick, teacher at
Lakewood Elementary (Kanawha County), and, Ms. Rebecca Hicks and Mr. Christian Nealen,
students attending McDowell County Schools, addressed the Board regarding education
considerations for the West Virginia Legislature's 2015 regular session. (Copies appended to
Official Minutes, Attachment N.)
VI.
Delegations (Continued)
Delegations continued regarding Fayette County Schools/Collins Middle School:
Delegate Tom Fast, Ms. Carolyn Arritt (distributed information), Mr. Randall Patterson
(distributed information), and Mr. Leon Ivey. (Copies appended to Official Minutes, Attachment
Mc.)
VII.
Approval of Agenda
President Manchin called for a motion to approve the agenda. Dr. White moved that the
agenda be approved. Mr. Green seconded the motion and upon the call for the question the
motion was carried unanimously.
VIII.
WVBE Personnel Matters
President Manchin called for a motion to approve the Board's personnel attachment.
Mr. Linger moved that the Board's personnel attachment be approved. Mr. Dunlevy seconded
the motion and upon the call for the question the motion was carried unanimously. (Copy
appended to Official Minutes, Attachment A.)
IX.
Policy 2520.3C, Next Generation Content Standards
and Objectives for Science in West Virginia Schools
President Manchin reminded delegations that they would be heard prior to discussion and
action, if any, regarding Policy 2520.3C and called on Mr. Clayton Burch, Chief Academic
Officer, Division of Teaching and Learning, to address the Board regarding Policy 2520.3C. Mr.
Burch provided information regarding recently adopted Policy 2520.3C and recommended that
the policy be withdrawn, and that the policy, as reviewed and aligned with the Next Generation
Science Standards, be placed on public comment for 30 days.
Following Mr. Burch's presentation, President Manchin called upon delegations wishing
to address the Board regarding Policy 2520.3C. The following individuals addressed the Board
regarding Policy 2520.3C: Mr. Jim Probst (distributed information), Ms. Regan Quinn, Mr.
Matthew McCarty, Mr. Craig Rucker, Mr. Marc Marano, Mr. Tom Rodd (distributed
information), Mr. Brian Bellew, Mr. Jim Sconyers (provided remarks for attachment of the
minutes), Mr. Michael Fellner, Mr. Herman L. Mays Jr. (presented petition for attachment to the
minutes), Ms. Jenna Adkins, Mr. Jon Bassin, Mr. Matt Jarvis, Ms. Caitlin Grimes, Mr. Robin
Wilson (distributed information), Ms. Amy Weintraub, Ms. Karan Ireland, Mr. Julian Martin,
and Ms. Pam Rockwell. (Copies appended to Official Minutes, Attachment O.)
-3Upon the conclusion of presentations from delegations, President Manchin thanked the
delegations and called for a motion regarding the recommendation presented by Mr. Burch.
Mr. Green moved that Policy 2520.3C, as adopted with an effective date of July 1, 2016, be
withdrawn, and Policy 2520.3C as reviewed and aligned with the Next Generation Science
Standards, be placed on public comment for 30 days. Dr. White seconded the motion. President
Manchin called for discussion at which time Mr. Burch addressed questions from the Board.
Following discussion, President Manchin called for the question. The motion was carried with
six members voting yes, and two members, Mr. Campbell and Mr. Linger, voting no.
X.
Break
President Manchin called for a break for lunch at 12:30 p.m.
XI.
Call to Order
President Manchin called the meeting back to order at 1:39 p.m. and requested the
Board's consensus to modify the agenda to allow the capacity building and Policy 2510
presentations to be moved forward in the agenda.
XII.
Capacity Building for Priority Schools and Intervention Counties
Ms. Michele Blatt, Chief Accountability and Performance Officer, Division of Educator
Quality and System Support, and Mr. Ted Mattern (distributed information), System Support
Liaison, Office of the State Superintendent, provided information regarding support services
provided to intervention counties. Dr. Serena Starcher, Superintendent, Fayette County Schools,
provided additional information and answered questions regarding Collins Middle School, the
integrity of the Fayette County Comprehensive Educational Facilities Plan with regard to Collins
Middle School, solutions, and a timeline for solutions. Dr. Starcher will provide another update
in February. (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment C and addendum.)
XIII.
Policy 2510, Assuring the Quality of Education:
Regulations for Education Programs
Mr. Chuck Hatfield (distributed information), Superintendent of Putnam County Schools,
addressed the Board regarding the delivery of high school mathematics curriculum in Putnam
County Schools and concerns with implementation requirements. Superintendent Martirano
addressed the Board regarding the national perspective and providing the opportunity of choice
to local school systems if a track record of success is demonstrated. (Copy appended to Official
Minutes, Attachment P.)
XIV.
Update - WVBE Response to Governor's Education Agenda
Ms. Donna Hoylman Peduto (distributed information), WVBE Director of Operations,
assisted by Dr. White, Mr. Green, Sterling Beane Jr., Chief Technology Officer, Division of
Technology, and Mrs. Combs provided an update regarding progress toward accomplishing the
Governor's education agenda including the key provisions of the Governor's request of the
WVBE. (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment Q.)
-4WVBE Commission on School District Governance and Administration, Balanced
Governance, Improving Educational Performance and Fiscal Efficiencies. Mr. Campbell
provided information regarding the proposals found in the report and moved that the Board
accept the report as a working document and thanked the commission members for their service.
Mr. Jackson seconded the motion and upon the call for the question the motion was carried
unanimously. Mr. Campbell also issued a thank you to Dr. Howard O'Cull for his assistance.
President Manchin and Mr. Campbell will issue a formal thank you letter to commission
members and a Board committee will be established to take up the report with commission
members invited to participate in meetings at the discretion of the committee chair.
XV.
Superintendent's Report
Superintendent Martirano introduced Dr. Carla Howe (distributed information), Interim
Executive Director, WVDE Office of Assessment and Accountability, and Ms. Blatt, who
presented the A-F Business rules for the Board's consideration. The A-F grading system for
schools is slated to go into effect at the beginning of the 2015-2016. The business rules that are
before the Board for consideration are the metrics that undergird the A-F system and produce the
school grade. Following the presentation, Ms. Blatt recommended that action regarding this
action be delayed to the Board's February meeting. (Copy appended to Official Minutes,
Attachment B and addendum.)
ZoomWV. Dr. Howe (distributed information) provided a live demonstration that
showcased the new public site for educational information, ZoomWV. ZoomWV is an
easy-to-use interface to help educational stakeholders make informed decisions, which ultimately
impacts student achievement. (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment R.)
XVI.
Chancellor Reports
Chancellor Hill and Chancellor Skidmore were unable to attend the meeting.
XVII.
WVBE Coordinator of Board Agencies Report
Mr. Jason L. Butcher, WVBE Coordinator of Board Agencies, provided updates
regarding his work with the West Virginia Schools for the Deaf and the Blind, WVDE Office of
Institutional Education Programs, Office of Education Performance Audits, and RESAs.
XVIII.
WVBE RESA Liaison Report
Ms. Kelly Watts, Executive Director, RESA 3, provided a report on the behalf of RESAs
highlighting RESA 3 and RESA 3 accomplishments and events and the focus of all RESAs in
school improvement initiatives.
XIX.
Consent Agenda
Mr. Dunlevy moved that the Consent Agenda be approved. Mr. Jackson seconded the
motion and upon the call for the question the motion was carried unanimously. (Copies
appended to Official Minutes, Attachments D through H.)

Approved minutes of December 10, 2014 (Attachment D)
-5-
XX.

Received information regarding WVDE Personnel Matters (Attachment E)

Approved two first time requests and one request for continuation of waiver of
WVBE policy (Attachment F)

Approved Marshall University's new Elementary Mathematics Specialist
Program (Attachment G)

Approved Policy 4350, Procedures for the Collection, Maintenance and
Disclosure of Student Data, for placement on public comment for 30 days
(Attachment H)
Recess
President Manchin recessed the meeting at 3:54 p.m. and announced that the meeting
would reconvene on January 15 at 9:00 a.m. in the same location.
XXI.
Reconvene
President Manchin reconvened the meeting of January 14, 2015, at 9:14 a.m. on January
15, 2015, in the Capitol Room, Capitol Building 7, 1900 Kanawha Boulevard, East, Charleston,
West Virginia.
The following members were present: President Manchin, Vice President Michael I.
Green, Secretary Tina H. Combs (via telephone), Thomas W. Campbell, Robert W. Dunlevy (via
telephone), Lloyd G. Jackson II, and William M. White, and ex officio Michael J. Martirano,
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.
XXII.
Office of Education Performance Audits (OEPA) Director’s Information
Ms. Susan O'Brien, Director, Office of Education Performance Audits, provided brief
remarks regarding completion of team leader training, reviews are now underway in RESA 2
counties, and RESA 6 reports should be before the Board for consideration in March.
XXIII.
Initial On-Site Reviews for Schools Located in RESA 7
Ms. O'Brien (distributed information) reported that, in response to Policy 2320 (effective
July 1, 2014) and the direction of the WVBE, the OEPA instituted Initial On-Site Reviews of the
High Quality Process Standards in all West Virginia public schools during the 2014-2015 and
2015-2016 school years. Beginning with school year 2016-2017, the OEPA will conduct on-site
reviews of each school in the state once every four years. All public schools in the 12 school
systems located in RESA 7 (Barbour, Doddridge, Gilmer, Harrison, Lewis, Marion, Monongalia,
Preston, Randolph, Taylor, Tucker, and Upshur counties) participated in on-site reviews during
September and November 2014.
-6Upon the recommendation of Ms. O'Brien, Mr. Jackson moved that the individual school
reports be approved and any school in which a function rating was lowered to emerging or
unsatisfactory or policy or Code was found non-compliance be required to revise the strategic
plan within 30 days and begin corrective action. Mr. Campbell seconded the motion and upon
the call for the question the motion was carried unanimously.
Ms. O'Brien further recommended, based on the on-site reviews and the areas of
non-compliance and/or findings detailed in the addendum to the agenda, that the actions be
approved. Mr. Campbell moved that actions recommended in the areas of non-compliance
and/or findings detailed in the addendum be approved. Dr. White seconded the motion and upon
the call for the question the motion was carried unanimously. (Copies appended to Official
Minutes, Attachment I and addendum.)
XXIV. County Plans to Eliminate Financial Deficits: Approval of the Submitted Plans
for the Calhoun County, Clay County, Grant County,
and Randolph County School Systems
Ms. O'Brien presented county plans to eliminate financial deficits for the Calhoun, Clay,
Grant, and Randolph County school systems for the Board's consideration. W. Va. Code §182E-5(m)(4)(B) and Section 8.3.b.2 of Policy 2320, A Process for Improving Education:
Performance Based Accreditation System, indicate that whenever the county board has more
than a casual deficit, the county board shall submit a plan to the WVBE specifying strategies for
eliminating the casual deficit. According to the Code and policy, the WVBE shall either approve
or reject the plan. Four county boards had deficits beyond what is considered to be casual deficit
as defined in W. Va. Code §18-1-1. These include Calhoun, Clay, Grant, and Randolph
counties. Mr. Joe Panetta, Chief Operations Officer, Division of Student Support Services,
addressed questions regarding the county plans.
Mr. Campbell moved, since statutory requirements are being fulfilled by Calhoun, Clay,
Grant, and Randolph counties, that the plans specifying strategies for eliminating the deficit fund
balances 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 J.)
XXV.
WVBE Committee Report and WVBE Alignment with
Governor's 2015 Education Legislative Agenda
Mr. Panetta provided brief remarks on behalf of the WVBE Finance Committee
regarding the Governor's proposed budget for public education and indicated that the budget is
under review.
Mr. Jackson (distributed information) led discussion regarding the Governor's 2015
education legislative agenda regarding budget cuts, personnel actions taken in response to the
audit, instructional time waivers, incentive pay, STEM initiative, truancy prevention, and the
early education initiative. Mr. Jackson opined that the Board is in alignment with the Governor's
education agenda. Dr. White stated that the Board must provide the legislature accurate
information regarding the WVDE and the West Virginia Schools for the Deaf and the Blind.
Mrs. Combs thanked WVDE and WVBE staff for traveling to the eastern panhandle this past
week to visit schools. Mr. Green spoke to mentoring in schools across the state and indicated
-7that student involvement will be a facet in future meetings. (Copy appended to Official Minutes,
Attachment S.)
XXVI.
Items for Future Consideration
President Manchin requested that future agenda items be provided to her as soon as
possible. The following topics were requested to be placed on future agendas: student voice;
Finance Committee update be a standing item; discussion regarding additional meetings held
during the legislative session; meeting in counties/schools; and spotlighting excellence in West
Virginia schools. (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment K.)
XXVII.
Future Meetings inclusive of Discussion of 2015 Meeting Dates
President Manchin addressed the Board regarding future meeting dates. Mr. Campbell
suggested that the Board consider meeting more often during the legislative session and perhaps
less often during the summer months. The next regular meeting of the WVBE will be held
February 12, 2015, in Charleston, West Virginia. The meeting will continue on February 13,
2015, if the agenda is not completed on February 12, 2015. (Copy appended to Official Minutes,
Attachment L.)
XXVIII.
Adjournment
President Manchin declared the meeting adjourned at 10:38 a.m.
Minutes approved by the Board on February 12, 2015.
______________________________________________
Gayle C. Manchin, President
______________________________________________
Tina H. Combs, Secretary
Minutes were recorded by
Virginia M. Harris
Secretary to the Board
WVBEMinutes1/14/15