News

Governor proposes teacher raises, but some rally for greater amounts

Gov. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., Wednesday night delivered his fourth State of the State Address to a joint session of the West Virginia Legislature and a statewide audience. Manchin listed what he believes were the state’s accomplishments last year and administration plans for the future. 
As typical in election-year legislative sessions, Manchin’s address emphasized past accomplishments rather than new, bold initiatives for the 60-day regular session which began Wednesday at noon.
Although the governor did not mention it in his address, he is proposing a 3 percent across-the-board pay raise for public school teachers, administrators, state employees, higher education employees and service workers. 

In addition, public school teachers would get another $400 across-the-board raise.

Several hundred school teachers rallied at the Capitol for higher salaries as the proposal was being outlined. The rally was part of a coordinated effort of the American Federation of Teachers – West Virginia and the state School Service Personnel Association.

The governor’s plan also includes a new program to attract new teachers to hard-to-fill positions by paying them “sizeable” signing bonuses. Twenty million dollars will be used by county school systems to lure teachers to critical need areas such as mathematics, science and other “critical need teaching positions.”

The legislation is not ready, but administration officials estimate those bonuses will be at least several thousand dollars and will also require such teachers to remain in West Virginia several years.


Highlights of the Manchin education proposals

• $50 million for a higher education research program. The “Bucks for Jobs” program will endow West Virginia and Marshall universities with the funds to be used for research matched one-to-one by other dollars.
  
  
• $30 million to community and technical colleges. The program will provide specialty training for specific industries.
  
  (Both programs are aimed at attracting new and high tech businesses to the state).
  
  
• Saying it’s time to keep the best and brightest in the state and to get some return from  the significant state investment in Promise Scholarships, Manchin outlined a proposal whereby Promise recipients would be required to repay their scholarship money to the state if they leave West Virginia after graduating.
  
  
  • Programs to curb student bullying, teacher intimidation and measures to address grade deficiencies, including invoking students’ drivers licenses.
    
    
  • Major budgetary plans include committing $1.7 billion to pay down massive unfunded liabilities in state teachers and public employees pension plans.
    
    
  • A requirement that county boards utilize the full amount of freed-up state school aid formula moneys for teachers’ salaries.

Employee pay raises

Among proposed pay increases, the budget includes $32.7 million for 3 percent raises for professional educators and $10.8 million for an additional $400 across-the-board raise for classroom teachers.

In commenting on the administration teacher pay proposals, AFT-WV President Judy Hale said her group will be calling on lawmakers, will be working to see the pay raise enacted during the 60-day session and will focus on subject areas where teacher shortages exist.

The budget includes $10.7 million for 3 percent pay raises for school service personnel and $20.36 million for 3 percent raises for state employees.
 
In commenting on the administration teacher pay proposals, AFT-WV President Judy Hale said her group will be calling on lawmakers, will be working to see the pay raise enacted during the 60-day session and will focus on subject areas where teacher shortages exist.

“We want to draw attention to this West Virginia teachers and all education personnel need a substantial pay raise because our salaries are just not competitive,” she said.

Discussing a topic often noted by AFT-WV, Hale said 700 classrooms in West Virginia commenced the school year without certified – in-field – teachers.

West Virginia Education Association President Charlie DeLauder applauded Manchin for filing gaps in teachers’ salary schedules although he was quoted in The Charleston Gazette as saying the governor’s speech didn’t include enough about education.

“We want to draw attention to this West Virginia teachers and all education personnel need a substantial pay raise because our salaries are just not competitive,” she said.

“…He missed his chance to step up and say, ‘Education’s important for West Virginia. He didn’t mention any salary increase for anybody. He applauded state workers. That was about it.”

State Superintendent of Schools Steve Paine praised the governor’s pay proposals, saying “We’re placing a lot of demands on teachers they’ve never dealt with before” – an allusion to the state’s 21st Century Skills initiative and changes in testing, curricular approaches and content.

State teachers were awarded a 3.5 percent pay increase last year.

Local Share

Manchin’s call for freed-up SAF dollars to be used for teacher pay should “come as no real surprise to county boards and superintendents,” according to Howard O’Cull, West Virginia School Board Association executive director. “Before the ink was dry on that legislation last year, teacher organizations were telling county boards the overage was to go to salaries – despite the wording in statute.”

O’Cull said he alerted his members to the shift in counties being able to use these funds for discretionary purposes last fall. The decision actually has genesis in legislators’ perceptions of how FY08 increases in local property dollars were used. Some counties used the moneys for current expenses without committing the dollars to salaries as apparently was the intent of legislators.

He also said during the 2007 regular session discussions reportedly were conducted between the Manchin administration and school employee organizations that the administration wanted to dedicate a “significant portion” of the freed-up SAF funds for salaries. Legislators eventually settled on having counties decide how to use the moneys.

“Shortly after the session – armed with this information – teacher organizations began to tell county boards about the ‘legislative intent’ regarding how the funds were to be used, although this wasn’t codified,” O'Cull said. “Some cynical board members and superintendents think the approach may have been designed to show how county boards would use the funds with the Legislature making corrections if necessary in subsequent years.”

“I’ll leave that impression to those who follow that line of logic,” O’Cull said.

The executive director said there is some concern among county board members that the plan might affect a 2007 law regarding county boards who are required to pay county libraries funds from the freed-up local dollars. “I don’t believe this is the case, but we need to see the language in the legislation first,” he said. ”The library payments are made from funds ‘in excess’ of dedicated local share dollars – sort of excess moneys – which may not be affected by this proposal.”.

In discussing the proposal, Manchin said, “We gave that flexibility last year, but I have found that in many cases the money was used for purposes other than the classroom salary supplements that it was meant for.”

Promise Scholarships

The Manchin Promise Scholarship plan raised eyebrows of some legislators although the gist of the proposal has been discussed around the Legislature since the program was established. “Some Democrat and especially some Republican lawmakers have tossed this plan – or very similar plans – around for years. Whether the Legislature accepts the proposal will depend on several factors, especially determining how many Promise graduates actually leave the state,” O’Cull said.

MetroNews quoted Sen. Michael Oliverio, D-Monongalia, as saying “because we know if they will attend college in West Virginia the likelihood of them staying here is much greater than if they go off to other states for college and then we attempt to bring them back.”

Manchin provided no details for his proposal and there’s no indication when or if the Promise Board would consider what the governor suggested, although those provisions could be included in statute, according to O’Cull. “That’s what some bills in the past would have done if they were enacted by the Legislature.”

Other budget matters

Overall, the base budget of $4.066 billion including all state tax collections and state lottery profit is about a 3.5 percent increase over the 2007-08 spending plan.

However, Deputy Revenue Secretary Mark Muchow warned that growth in state revenue is projected to slow to slightly below 1 percent in 2008-09, as a variety of state tax cuts and a general slowdown in the economy will have an impact. Total state spending, including the base budget, federal appropriations and special revenue accounts is expected to total $10.3 billion in 2008-09 -- a decrease over the current total, state Budget Director Mike McKown said.

Overall, the base budget of $4.066 billion including all state tax collections and state lottery profit is about a 3.5 percent increase over the 2007-08 spending plan.

The election-year budget also proposes spending about $364 million in surplus revenue for a variety of one-time appropriations. It was carried over from the current budget.

“We’re trying to do major one-time funding of things that do not build anything into our [ongoing] base budget,” McKown said.

One-time appropriations also include the $50 million to expand a matching fund for research grants at WVU and Marshall and $30 million for what is expected to be two advanced job-training specialty centers to attract new business investment to the state.

However, Deputy Revenue Secretary Mark Muchow warned that growth in state revenue is projected to slow to slightly below 1 percent in 2008-09, as a variety of state tax cuts and a general slowdown in the economy will have an impact.

Much of his 52-minute speech emphasized accomplishments of his administration since Manchin took office in January 2005.
At the time, the governor said, “It was clear the challenges ahead are daunting, but the possibilities for success are unmistakable.”

Many legislators said Manchin’s proposals lack “specifics.”

“That’s a yearly refrain no matter who is governor,” O’Cull said.

Sources include WVSBA reporting, MetroNews, The Charleston Gazette, The Associated Press and Charleston Daily Mail.

 

National study both praises and faults state's public schools

West Virginia Makes the Top Ten List of Quality Counts - W.Va. Department of Education news release headline Jan. 10, 2008

A new national study praises West Virginia's education policies, but gives the state's public school students an F for classroom achievement.

(See Last Word – A reprint of a Charleston Daily Mail editorial relating to NAEP and state student achievement.) 

Eighth-graders rank 47th in math and 43rd in reading, while fourth-graders rank 40th in reading and math. The Education Week's "Quality Counts 2008'' report released Wednesday says those rankings are based on student scores on the National Assessment of Educational Progress test.

The report also notes that West Virginia's eighth-graders rank 50th in the nation for improvement.

Education Week found that the state showed strong marks in school finance, prepared students to continue their education and maintained high standards and accountability measures.

In regard to student achievement, State Superintendent Steve Paine told The Charleston Gazette NAEP test scores where “low, they were too low. We’ve made the correction. We just didn’t make it fast enough.”

The Gazette says by that statement Paine means that state officials agreed to increase standards in the classroom and introduce more rigorous coursework for students, a plan which will expand statewide this fall. That step should improve NAEP scores over time, he said.
West Virginia also earned a C-minus grade in student chance for success — among the five worst states. For the most part, officials measured a family’s income, a parent’s education or employment, kindergarten and pre-school enrollment, high school graduation rates, a young adult’s education opportunities and math and reading proficiency.

West Virginia was the only state to earn an A grade for school finance, which tracks school spending and whether there is an equal amount of dollars and resources spent per student.

The total spent on education may seem inflated because of the $285 million spent per year on an unfunded liability for the Teachers Retirement System, state officials said.

West Virginia earned an A for its accountability measures, new standards and assessment of student skills, while it earned a B-plus as it prepared students to continue their education in college or the work force and required that high school students complete college-preparatory work.

The state performed above the national average in the “teaching profession” category, earning a C-plus.

The report noted that teacher salaries are not equal to comparable West Virginia occupations and parents are not notified if their student has an out-of-field teacher.

A teacher shortage task force, made up of state education officials, teachers, college educators and union officials recently cited better teacher salaries as the best way to recruit and retain new teachers.

Paine said the state also needs the help of lawmakers to develop a new model for teacher training so teachers can shore up their skills when the new, more rigorous standards become the norm.

A new model might include built-in workdays that are devoted solely to teacher training, he said.

Overall, states did not perform too well or too poorly in any one category, said Amy Hightower, deputy director for the Editorial Projects in Education Research Center. The research center is affiliated with Education Week.

“Our top performing states had at least one area where they were relatively weak; our bottom performing states had at least one area where they excelled,” Hightower wrote in an e-mail. “Our intention is not that states fixate too much on their grades. Grades area relatively easy way for us to display a very large amount of information. They’re intended as a conversation-starter, not the final word.”

Researchers also found that state teachers earn 87.5 cents on the dollar when compared to similar professions in West Virginia, Hightower said.

Researchers considered architects, clergy, computer programmers, journalists, insurance underwriters, registered nurses, physical therapists and others as professionals that are similar to teachers.

From: The Charleston Gazette, The Associated Press, West Virginia Department of Education

Administrative Perspective

School administrators group outlines legislative goals

By Martha Dean, Ed.D.

It is difficult to believe another state legislative session is under way!  It seems just yesterday we were breathing a sigh of relief that it was over for 2007.

In preparation for this year’s session, the Legislative Committee of the West Virginia Association of School Administrators has developed priorities.

Priority One:

The current school aid formula is inadequate to meet the needs of county school districts to support the educational programs essential to provide 21st Century Skills to all students. We support changes in the formula to provide equitable resources to all counties to support high quality programs for students. We support basing allocation of state funds on net rather than adjusted enrollment figures.

Priority Two:

Teacher shortages in critical certification areas are reducing the ability of county school systems to provide fully certified and qualified instructors. We support establishment of alternative certification programs and increased teacher salaries as beginning efforts to solve the teacher shortage.

Priority Three:

Current law regarding the school calendar is very restrictive. We support a more flexible calendar to allow counties to vary beginning and ending dates of the school year and the ability to decide when makeup days are to be scheduled. We further support the addition of days for staff development to train teachers to meet the needs of the highly demanding 21st Century Initiative of the State Board of Education.

Endorsements:

We endorse and support legislation to enable the School Building Authority to sell bonds and provide a higher level of funding to improve school facilities across the state.

We endorse and support two goals regarding the funding of RESAs in West Virginia. RESAs provide a valuable resource and support to county school systems who take advantage of the services. Funding for RESAs is set in law at 0.6 percent of the state total of Step 5 of the funding formula.  Recently this amount has not been fully funded, but capped at $4.2 Million. We support eliminating the cap.

The State of the State Address Wednesday by Gov. Joe Manchin had very little in terms of specifics for the education community. I know teachers were expecting a raise and hoped the governor would make a concrete suggestion during his speech. I was also expecting to hear either a percentage of definite amount of money he favors for teachers. But, he didn't. The governor emphasized previous raises have been responsible and affordable and indicated continuing this trend.

One of the most valuable services provided by RESAs is computer repair and maintenance. Cost of providing this service has increased due to rising salaries in education positions in the state. The amount of funds provided to RESAs has not kept up with increasing costs. The number of technicians has had to be reduced. We support increasing funding for computer maintenance.

A colorful brochure has been developed and mailed to legislators to inform them of the priorities for this year’s legislative action. But, more critical to legislative success is the personal contact every superintendent and every school board member can make and maintain with those representing their district.  I encourage everyone to be serious about this essential activity!

The State of the State Address Wednesday by Gov. Joe Manchin had very little in terms of specifics for the education community. I know teachers were expecting a raise and hoped the governor would make a concrete suggestion during his speech. I was also expecting to hear either a percentage or definite amount of money he favors for teachers. But, he didn’t. The governor emphasized previous raises have been responsible and affordable and indicated continuing this trend.

He did specify he planned to have legislation introduced to require county boards to spend 10 percent of the (formerly “discretionary”) amount of local taxes that would not be counted toward “local share” for salaries. As superintendents and school board members know, the amount each county will receive is variable because it is directly proportional to the assessed valuation of property in the counties. I hope to get the complete information regarding the amount of money each county will receive so that I can do a more complete analysis of this proposal in a later issue.

Another popular (according to the applause) proposal made by the governor is to have teachers take back their classrooms. This proposal would be accomplished by the development of a Bill of Rights and Responsibilities for Learning. The governor also said bullying in schools must stop now and that a way to work toward greater student responsibility is to revoke driver licenses of students who commit serious offenses. Moreover, he wants to require students to have passing grades in school before they can receive their driver licenses.

Wednesday, Jan 9, 1,276 carryover bills were introduced in the House of Delegates. Of those, 86 have been given a reference to the Education Committee. It sure looks like there is much work to be done already!

Upcoming event:

WVASA January Seminar on Legal and Current Issues.  Administrators and board members are urged to attend at Flatwoods Days Hotel Jan. 31-February 2. See details and registration information at www.wvasa.org.

Martha Dean is executive director of the West Virginia Association of School Administrators.

 

WVSBA Briefs

Winter conference Feb. 22-23 will include school funding formula forum

The West Virginia School Board Association’s 2008 Winter Conference will be Feb. 22-23 in the Charleston Marriott Town Center Hotel. 

The program starts at 1 p.m, Friday, Feb. 22, with a “definitive discussion” of the state’s School Aid Formula (SAF), based on various perspectives – legislative, executive branch, West Virginia Board/Department of Education, WVSBA members and consultants who have been working with the Legislature for the past three years to revise the SAF.

The conference also will feature an overview regarding a late 2007 state Ethics Commission opinion concerning county board meetings. That opinion was requested by the Kanawha County Board of Education. It is considered far ranging – warranting membership training because of implications for board meeting management. This segment will include a mock board meeting format.

Other program components are in the planning stage, such as arranging for a keynote speaker. Education reformer/”futurist” Ian Jukes cannot attend because of scheduling difficulties.

The association will return to the “no-agenda” session used in past conferences. The program also will feature workshops and a legislative briefing.

The program will end at 11:45 a.m., Saturday, Feb. 23.

If you have program suggestions, please contact Executive Director Howard M. O’Cull, Ed.D.: hocull@wvsba.org or 304.346.0571.

 

Resources

YWCA Wheeling and Dinsmore & Shohl announce statewide winners of MLK Jr. Essay Contest

WHEELING (Jan. 9, 2008) – This year on the 15th anniversary of its statewide Martin Luther King Jr. Project on Racism Essay Contest, the YWCA Wheeling is proud to recognize the law firm of Dinsmore & Shohl LLP as a partner in the annual event.

More than 1,000 essays were submitted to the YWCA by West Virginia students in grades one through 12. Each year’s theme – selected annually by the agency’s racial justice department – challenged students to explore a quotation by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.  Any student enrolled in a public, private or home school in West Virginia could enter. Essays were judged on originality, grammar, relevance to theme and affective expression. This year the contest was shaped around the theme, “Inheriting a World House: Living Together Peacefully.”

Because of the statewide nature of the contest and Dinsmore & Shohl's commitment to diversity, Diana Bell, contest coordinator and YWCA racial justice director, called the partnership with the law firm “a perfect fit.” 

Calvin Buford, chairman of Dinsmore & Shohl's Diversity Committee said he was honored to be a partner of the contest. “We feel this educational program is a perfect example of how to promote diversity in the community,” Buford said. Dinsmore & Shohl has offices in Wheeling, Charleston and Morgantown.

This year, the winners in the first and second grade category are Claire-Elizabeth Ford of Berkley County, Marquise Dunn of Ohio County and Hailey Sirbaugh of Ohio County. Winners in other grades are third and fourth grades, Michael Mills of Mercer County, Savannah Austen of Ohio County and Madelyne of Putnam County; in sixth through eighth grades, Katrina Stewart of Ohio County, Charnequia Brooks of Cabell County and Laura Marsh of Marshall County; and grades ninth through 12, Katee Conaway of Pleasants County, Matthew Leo of Ohio County and Brittany Shields of Harrison County.

Calvin Buford, chairman of Dinsmore & Shohl's Diversity Committee said he was honored to be a partner of the contest. “We feel this educational program is a perfect example of how to promote diversity in the community,” Buford said.

Winning students receive savings bond awards and are invited with their parents to attend the Martin Luther King Jr. Awards Luncheon in Charleston Jan. 21. First place winners in each age category are given the opportunity to read their essays at the luncheon. All winning students and submitting teachers receive recognition certificates.

The YWCA USA is a women’s membership movement that has had racial justice at the heart of its work for more than a century. Eliminating racism remains at its core. Together with Women’s Economic Empowerment, racial justice is a Hallmark Program common to all member YWCA associations. In partnership with the King Center and the West Virginia State MLK Celebration Commission’s Celebration 2008, the YWCA Wheeling “encourages West Virginia students to share their vision of Dr. King’s legacy,” Bell said.

A newly-created teacher’s guide accompanied this year’s essay contest materials. The guide is designed to help educators use the contest as a teaching tool. Bell said she hopes the contest encourages teachers and students to think about the relevance of Dr. King’s teachings today.

Prepared by YWCA Wheeling, 1100 Chapline St., Wheeling, WV, 26003

 

Capitol Ministries Bible studies include "Finding True Happiness in the Capitol"

By Tim Pauley

Capitol Ministries provides weekly Bible studies for legislators, elected officials, lobbyists, staff, and others serving in the Capitol.

We will have two Bible studies for lobbyists and staff each week during the regular legislative session. The studies will be at 8 a.m. Tuesday in the Secretary of State’s Conference Room. Our second study will be each Tuesday at noon in the Treasurer’s Conference Room (EB 54). This room is in the basement of the East Wing. I would like to invite you to join us at either study.

This session we will be studying “The Beatitudes: Finding True Happiness in the Capitol.” Throughout this study of Matthew 5:1-12 we will consider what God’s Word has to say about what true happiness is and how to find it.

Copies of our study notes will be distributed each week. If you would like to receive a copy, please drop me an e-mail and I will add you to our e-mail list (tim.pauley@capmin.org).

 If you have questions regarding our ministry or our upcoming studies, please contact me: 304.767.8430. The Web site address is www.capmin.org

Tim Pauley is state director of Capitol Ministries West Virginia.

2008 Legislative Calendar

 

√ First Day - Jan. 9, 2008: First day of session. (WV Const. Art. VI, §18)

20th Day – Jan. 28, 2008: Submission of Legislative Rule-Making Review bills due. (WV Code §29A-3-12)

41st Day – Feb. 18, 2008: Last day to introduce bills in Senate. Does not apply to originating or supplementary appropriation bills. (Senate Rule 14) Does not apply to Senate resolutions or concurrent resolutions.

45th Day - Feb.  22, 2008: Last day to introduce bills in House of Delegates. Does not apply to originating or supplementary appropriation bills. (House Rule 91a) Does not apply to House resolutions or concurrent resolutions.

47th Day - Feb. 24, 2008: Bills due out of committees in house of origin to ensure three full days for readings.

50th Day - Feb. 27, 2008: Last day to consider bill on third reading in house of origin. Does not include budget or supplementary appropriation bills. (Joint Rule 5b)

60th Day - March 8, 2008: Adjournment at Midnight. (WV Const. Art. VI, §22)

Source: the West Virginia Legislature

 

Commentary

School Building Authority Active in 2007 with both existing and new programs

By Mark A. Manchin, Ed.D.

The School Building Authority of West Virginia has been very active in 2007 with school planning and construction. The authority has been working closely with the Governor’s Office and the West Virginia Legislature to implement new programs and improve upon existing ones.

In the spring of 2007, the West Virginia Legislature provided for School Access Safety and allotted $10 million for distribution. It was requested that SBA create new policy regarding distribution of funds. The authority created new policy that complied with the School Access Safety legislation and has been working with counties in preparation of School Access Safety Plans for all schools. Thirty eight county plans have been approved and we are assisting remaining counties with their plans. In addition, the authority has approved $7,649,388 for distribution to counties.

The authority created new policies and procedures regarding design build project delivery methods for school projects and new school design fee structures and quality and performance criteria for new schools. The SBA staff is working with an advisory committee of educators, facility directors, architects, engineers and contractors in the state whose purpose will be to create performance standards for major building components in new school projects.  We feel this will provide equitable SBA funding levels based on the established building component quality levels. We hope to have the building quality and performance standards completed by June 2008.

The authority is working with the Governor’s Office and the legislative leadership on the creation of a new School Construction Funding Program.  Currently, the authority is providing funding on a pay-as-you-go method with approximately $45-50 million being awarded annually for new and renovated school construction. The proposed funding would generate a combination of pay-as-you-go funding in conjunction with the sale of bonds that would generate additional funding beyond our current levels. This is only in the discussion stages and the governor and legislature will be considering options as they prepare the 2008 legislative agenda. We will be discussing this exciting proposal more as it develops. We would appreciate your support and will provide details of legislation should this come to fruition.

We appreciate the partnership with the State School Board Association and believe we can continue working cooperatively toward the improvement of school facilities. Your support of the proposed legislation will be a key factor in its passage in the 2008 legislative session.

Based on the possibility of additional SBA funding becoming available, we decided to delay the needs-based funding until the spring of 2008 after the Legislature has considered the proposed funding legislation. This will not delay 2008 funding because these funds are not available until July 1, 2008. This will only delay the naming of projects and perhaps allow a greater number of projects to be funded.

Major Improvement Projects (MIP) are also being delayed in 2008. However, we are hopeful the delay will be beneficial to the program and counties. Again, we are working with the governor and the legislative leadership on proposed legislation that would increase the maximum funding for MIP projects from $500,000 to $1,000,000 beginning in 2008. Given the number of requests we receive and the amount of the requests, we believe an increase in the MIP funding limit is appropriate. Construction inflation has decreased the number and size of projects local boards have been able to submit to the SBA. Each year meritorious projects are turned down due to the funding limitations of the MIP program. Should this new legislation be approved, we are planning to increase the MIP funding level available from $5 million to $10 million in 2008 and every year thereafter. We believe the restructuring of the MIP program justifies delaying funding until the fall 2008. Delaying the MIP funding also gives county boards the ability to resubmit needs projects that are not awarded in spring of 2008 as MIP projects in the fall.

We appreciate the partnership with the State School Board Association and believe we can continue working cooperatively toward the improvement of school facilities. Your support of the proposed legislation will be a key factor in its passage in the 2008 legislative session.

Mark Manchin is SBA executive director. He has served as Webster County  and McDowell County Schools superintendent and as an official at Regional Education Service Agency III. He also served one term as a state senator, representing Kanawha County. He was appointed SBA executive director last year by Gov. Joe Manchin.

 

 

ETC.

Meanwhile...in Indiana - This research raises "stink"

Some students will do anything for extra cash, even if it means sniffing livestock excrement.

Students at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Ind., can earn $30 per session to inhale and then rate whiffs of air collected from barns filled with hogs, cows and chickens. It's a science experiment conducted by a professor of agricultural and biological engineering.

He's searching for ways to improve methods for estimating a given livestock farm's odor emissions. The students' sniffing will help with his research to determine how far odors can travel and how far residences can be to a livestock farm and not be affected by its smells.

 – Several sources including NBC-10.Com (Greater Philadelphia, Leigh Valley, South Jersey and Delaware/Jan. 2, 2008.)

 

Wisdom

 

Politics, n. A strife of interests masquerading as a contest of principles. The conduct of public affairs for private advantage. – The Devil’s Dictionary (American satirist Ambrose Bierce 1842-1914).

Soundbites

 

"I believe we can make more advances this year when it comes to responsibly compensating classroom teachers. . .I am determined to do better and to give our teachers every possible tool they need to take back their classrooms. . ." – Gov. Joe Manchin in his Jan. 9 State of the State Address.

“Our top performing states had at least one area where they were relatively weak; our bottom performing states had at least one area where they excelled,” Hightower wrote in an e-mail. “Our intention is not that states fixate too much on their grades. Grades area relatively easy way for us to display a very large amount of information. They’re intended as a conversation-starter, not the final word.”  - Amy Hightower, deputy director for the Editorial Projects in Education Research Center. The research center is affiliated with Education Week which publishes the Quality Counts report. (Refer to News and Last Word.)

’”…I believe he just clearly forgot about education…” – West Virginia Education Association President Charlie  DeLauder discussing the State of the State address.

 

Last Word

State should adopt the national test as its standard and teach to that standard

Once again, national tests show that too many students in this state aren't acquiring the skills that children in other states are getting, which means West Virginia's kids will be at a disadvantage economically.

So once again state education officials have tinkered with the state's own curriculum and achievement test. The latest initiative is called 21st Century Learning.

It's hard to expect much from these exercises.

The discrepancies between what the state's achievement tests have told us, and what national achievement tests tell us about the same students, is beyond troubling. If memory serves, here is what happened:

The state developed its own test -- WESTEST -- to measure how well students grasped what the state decided to teach. Measured against its own standards, the state's results weren't bad.

State’s learning evaluation test is failing needs of students who do not stack up on national level.

But when the same students took the National Assessment of Educational Progress, which is given in every state, the results were disconcerting.

As the Daily Mail's Kelly Holleran reported, "In a study released earlier this year by Gary Phillips, chief analyst at the American Institutes for Research, eighth-grade students in West Virginia had lower NAEP math scores than students in 45 states.

"They came in 26th in the country with their science scores."

The state is responding to that with new initiatives.

We are told that teachers who will not only stress English, language arts, math and science will also be required to emphasize fine arts, wellness, foreign languages, "critical thinking," problem-solving, team-building, project-based learning, communication skills, etc.

Those may be worthy goals, and perhaps something is getting lost in the translation.

But ill-defined initiatives seem more likely to dilute rather than strengthen teachers' ability to improve students' command of essential skills.

The state could save taxpayers a ton of money by simply adopting the national test as its standard -- and yes, teaching to that standard.
Students who can do well on those tests will be able to compete, and that's what West Virginia students deserve.

Reprinted by permission of the Charleston Daily Mail. This editorial appeared Thursday, Jan. 3, 2008.

*

 

The Legislature is published by the West Virginia School Boards Association. It provides county board of education members, state policymakers, school administrators and the education community information and opinions regarding West Virginia legislative issues. The views expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect official opinion or policies of the WVSBA, unless specifically stated.

West Virginia School Boards Association
PO Box 1008
Charleston, WV 25324
Phone (304) 346-0571 • Fax (304) 346-0572 WVSBA.ORG

Sally Cann (Harrison), President

Vincit omnia veritas
“Truth conquers all”