West Virginia Department of Education

The board meeting included recognitions of exemplary practice schools for academic achievement and attendance. Key agenda items covered a school safety update regarding threats and crime prevention strategies, a progress report on the Grow Your Own Teacher Program, and presentations on post-secondary education outreach by the President of West Virginia University. Additionally, the board received updates on the Common Ground Partnership for military families, conducted an executive session for legal discussions, addressed personnel matters, heard delegations regarding child labor laws, vaccination requirements, and assessment testing, and received updates from board members on various events and initiatives.

The meeting included discussions on working with the Legislature to improve infrastructure and public education, a school safety update regarding crisis response plans, and recognitions for the School Service Personnel and Teacher of the Year. The Board received updates on the STEAM Technical Assistance Center at West Virginia University, heard delegation addresses regarding school discipline and safety, and reviewed the Lincoln County Schools state of emergency. Additionally, the Board approved statewide waivers for educator preparation programs and professional personnel evaluations, reconstituted its Finance Committee, discussed personnel litigation in executive session, and reviewed various reports including the 2022 School Discipline Report and the West Virginia Balanced Scorecard.

The agenda focuses on critical educational policy and administrative matters, including school safety updates, the employment of substitute teachers in areas of critical need, and the approval of new nonpublic school accreditation organizations. The board reviewed requests for waivers related to school nutrition standards and pre-K enrollment eligibility, along with several comprehensive educational facilities plan amendments for various county school boards. Additionally, the agenda included updates on orientation training for board members, appointments to the alternative certification educator preparation program review board, revisions to the licensure testing directory, and updates to athletic provisions and conduct rules for secondary schools. Finally, the meeting addressed interventions for specific school districts, an indoor training facility construction project for the schools for the deaf and the blind, pending legal matters, and personnel evaluations.

The board meeting agenda covers several key operational and policy-related items. Discussion topics include school safety updates, the employment of substitute teachers in areas of critical need, and the approval of new nonpublic school accreditation organizations. The board will review requests for waivers regarding school nutrition standards, amendments to county Comprehensive Educational Facilities Plans (CEFP) for Cabell and Lincoln counties, and orientation training for board members. Additional items include appointments to the Alternative Certification Educator Preparation Program Review Board, updates to the licensure testing directory, and a statewide waiver for physical education requirements. The board will also address the West Virginia Secondary Schools Activities Commission rules on student eligibility, updates on school interventions in Mingo, Nicholas, and Tyler counties, and a memorandum of understanding with the Hampshire County Little League regarding facility construction. Finally, the meeting includes provisions for discussing legal matters and personnel actions for both the Board of Education and the Department of Education.

The meeting featured recognitions for the Milken Educator Award, public delegations regarding vaccination laws and awareness months, and a school safety update. The Board received progress reports concerning financial and operational interventions for Hancock and Upshur County Schools. A resolution was passed to unconditionally reconvey the West Virginia Schools for the Deaf and the Blind barn property to the City of Romney to facilitate a federal recreation grant. Additionally, the Board reviewed and approved various personnel matters and received updates on student industry immersion events.