WVSBA The Legislature

February 15, 2008 - Volume 28 / Issue 11

Overview Info

Stats

Day of 2008 Regular Session 38th
Days Remaining 22
Bills Introduced:
(Including 629 House carryover bills)		 1,879

 

Quote:“It all looks good.” – Pendleton County Schools Superintendent Doug Lambert commenting on House Education’s proposed changes in the state’s Public School Support Program (PSSP). Lambert has attended each interim legislative meeting where PSSP revisions were discussed by a joint Senate/House Committee.  After several weeks of work , House Education members will vote on the bill this morning.

Inside

News


House Education’s proposed PSSP changes to be voted on this morning

House Education Committee will meet at 9 a.m. today  to consider its Public School Support Program proposal. The bill differs little from that reviewed in the Feb. 8 issue of The Legislature online newsletter.

The committee will consider an amendment that would alter language relating to the bill’s 1,400 “floor” provisions. According to Joe Panetta, executive director of the state Department of Education’s Office of School Finance, the current subcommittee proposal requires the number of students allowed for funding under this provision be adjusted by an additional 50 percent for eight county boards whose enrollment is less than 1,400 students.
  
The subcommittee’s proposed amendment would change the percentages in the following manner:

 

Bill changes outlined

Panetta said the above changes will increase the estimated allowance for this provision by $2.3 million. In discussing the subcommittee proposal, Counsel David Mohr explained the proposed changes and rationales.

The following is an analysis of proposed bill changes, namely to:

Note: For specific fiscal details refer to “PSSP Total Estimated Cost 09” and “Base Enrollment and Sparsity Factor ’09.” Both, as prepared by the state Department of Education as part of a Fiscal Note for the bill, are included on the association’s Web site – www.wvsba.org

 

Regionalization

Although discussed in a cursory manner by the PSSP Subcommittee, Del. Eustace Frederick, D-Mercer, said regionalization and consolidation of counties should have been considered. Mohr said current law allows county boards to share services and said there have been recent legislative emphases on beefing up Regional Education Service Agencies’ role in providing more regionalized services, especially as a West Virginia Board of Education directive.

Frederick, persisting with his questioning, questioned if there are on-going efforts to discuss regionalization. Del. Richard Browning, D-Wyoming, said while he appreciated Frederick’s questions, “people out in the hinterlands want to keep their county boards of education.” Browning said that the issue could be examined in 2008 interim meetings. “I think we’ve got an open mind for change,” he said.

Subcommittee Vice Chairman Brady Paxton, D-Putnam, who presided during the session, said regionalization is not simple due to many factors, including geography and culture. “If we, indeed, want to regionalize, you’d be combining people who don’t like each other,” citing various inter-county rivalries and alliances.

West Virginia School Board Association Executive Director Howard M. O’Cull, Ed.D., also broached the issue at the subcommittee’s Feb. 8 meeting. He said RESAs could be more diligent, especially with WVBE guidance, in providing services to smaller counties and counties should receive incentives to share services and personnel. O’Cull contends this approach will not “disturb” the dynamics of county boards, but lead to greater efficiencies.

In responding to Frederick’s questions, Deputy State Superintendent of Schools Jack McClanahan, Ed.D., said county boards are responsible for initiating greater sharing of services. As the meeting closed, Doug Lambert, Pendleton County Schools superintendent, said of the proposal “all looks good.”

State Superintendent Steve Paine, Ed.D., also praised the subcommittee for its work. He said the group should be praised for its “diligence” and the measure as worked out by the subcommittee ends the “tendency (for county boards) to be pitted against each other.”

The subcommittee also proposes to capture 50 percent of the increase in the state’s portion of local tax revenues to apply toward classroom teacher salaries to develop a “long-range” emphasis on salaries. O’Cull discussed this notion in a Monday subcommittee meeting, although representatives of the West Virginia Education Association provided actual bill language.

Sally Cann (Harrison), WVSBA president, discussed the need for a long-range plan for teacher salary increases in a recent The Legislature column.

If adopted by House Education Committee this morning, the measure will go to House Finance Committee.


House committee approves bus travel times measure, driver’s license bill, proposal relating to libraries among other items


The House Education Committee Monday approved House Bill 4406, which requires the state Board of Education’s recommended guidelines for student transportation “times” to be codified as amended by the committee.


Driver’s license bill

The committee also approved a committee substitute version of the governor’s driver’s license measure – House Bill 4023.

Travel times

The recommended bus travel time guidelines include 30 minutes for elementary school students, 45 minutes for middle, intermediate and junior high school students and 60 minutes for high school students. The bill would prohibit creation of new bus routes for students in Grades Pre-K – 5 which exceed the elementary limit by more than 15 minutes unless a county board would adopt a motion to request “written permission” of the state Board of Education.

If the county board receives this approval, the bus route “limit” could not exceed 60 minutes. In terms of the above provisions, the WVBE is required to provide technical assistance to county boards to create bus routes consistent with recommended time durations.

 

SBA plans

Under terms of the bill, county boards must submit to the School Building Authority of West Virginia which would avoid excessive bus transportation times, with the plans to be “consistent with sound education policy and budget constraints.” Additionally, the bill would require that county board SBA facility plans must include updated estimates of associated bus transportation costs when projects include the closure, consolidation or construction of a school.

After July 1, the SBA would be prohibited from approving a county board project that includes a closure, consolidation or construction of facilities which exceed state Board of Education’s guidelines more than 15 minutes unless the WVBE has given written permission. There are 10 House sponsors, including lead sponsor Del. Joe DeLong, D-Hancock, House majority leader.

 

“Keep our small schools…”

Del. Stan Shaver, D-Preston, another of the bill sponsors says the intent of the proposed legislation is to “keep our small local schools within a reasonable time-frame distance.” Several members of Challenge West Virginia, a small schools advocacy group, attended the meeting.

 
“…Extreme bus rides”

Lorelei Scarbro, a Raleigh County CWV fellow, echoed Shaver’s sentiments: “We’re trying to protect any child in West Virginia from being placed on long, extreme bus rides.” Several delegates, particularly Del. Woody Ireland, R-Ritchie, said the real issue in long bus rides was not time but “distance” and that CWV should concentrate on the latter. He also said he often is passed by school buses trying to get students to school.

Del. Gerald Crosier, D-Monroe, brought up the same issue: “You are going to make the bus drivers speed it up.” According to several sources, the bill has support of the Senate and governor unlike other years where it has died in one house or the other.


Driver’s license bill largely tied to discipline – not school attendance

House Bill 4023, the governor’s driver’s license bill, was amended by House Education Committee based on a HEC subcommittee recommendation so that it relates to discipline rather than absences in terms of student acquisition or loss of a driver’s license.
To accomplish this objective, several substantive changes are made in existing law -- one of which would require students to submit a “Driver’s Eligibility Certificate” to the Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to receive a license. That form would replace the current requirement that students present a “school enrollment form” to DMV.


Driver’s Eligibility Certificate

In addition to the Driver’s Eligibility Certificate, students would have to be making “satisfactory progress toward graduation” and not have more than 10 consecutive or 15 total unexcused absences in the current and previous semesters. The present standard is that a student is considered ‘withdrawn’ from school after 10 consecutive unexcused absences or a total 15 unexcused absences in a school year.


Suspensions and expulsions

The latter two provisions relate to suspension and expulsions. The student could not have been suspended or expelled in the current and previous school semesters for assault and battery on school employees, possessing a deadly weapon on school facilities, sale of a narcotic drug on school property (or during a school event) or engaged in “an act or conduct” that would be considered a felony if committed as an adult. Additionally, the student could not be suspended for more than 10 total days in the current and previous school semesters as outlined above.


Other bill provisions include:

Existing students are subject only to the attendance/enrollment provisions outlined in state law.

 To achieve consistency, the state Board of Education would promulgate rules that would implement the legislation.

 

“Impacting a student’s life…”

There was little discussion about the bill, although Lynwood  "Woody” Ireland, R-Ritchie, stated the measure is designed to “impact a student’s life outside the education process for what is done under the (education) process.” In terms of achieving “satisfactory progress toward graduation,” House Education Committee Counsel David Mohr and several committee members said the WVBE rule may be key to determining that standard. Mohr, however, said, “They (students) can’t just be showing up and sleeping” but must work toward any WVBE standard.

Other committee concerns related to record-keeping, especially determining the DMV’s role. According to committee testimony, most record keeping is the responsibility of local school districts.


Thursday committee action

Meeting Thursday, House Education Committee approved the following measures:

House Bill 4163. The purpose is to clarify sections of a 2007 statute relating to library funding obligations created by Special Acts of the Legislature beginning in the 1930s and affecting nine county boards. The bill is an amalgam of both the original House Bill 4163 and House Bill 4373. Both bills were introduced on behalf of the Kanawha County delegates’ delegation. The bill clarifies that the obligation is due from the amount by which school taxes levies exceed local share as specified for Public School Support Program (PSSP) allowances. This amount would be termed “discretionary retainage”. The library obligation would be reduced to the amount of the discretionary retainage, as defined above.

Any excess is available for the county board to budget at its discretion. Lastly, the bill clarifies that if an obligation for library funding is transferred to an excess levy as allowed by Senate Bill 541 last year, the county board’s obligation, in terms of the regular outlays mandated for library payments, remain until the fiscal year in which the excess levy becomes effective or, if not passed, would have been effective.

House Bill 4407. This bill requires automatic chains as standard equipment on school buses purchased for use on bus tires during inclement weather when road conditions require their use. The provision is effective July 1, 2009.

The committee also received an extensive report regarding House Education Committee’s proposed PSSP legislation. The committee will consider that legislation Feb. 15.



In Tuesday and Thursday meetings, Senate Education Committee approved these bills.

Public education

 

School Building Authority


$19 million in bonds

Under terms of the bill, $19 million from the State Excess Lottery Fund would be deposited into a newly-created Excess Lottery School Building Debt Service Fund.

The bill would increase from $400 million to $500 million the aggregate face value of bonds the SBA can issue, including moneys in the authority’s existing Debt Service Fund or the Excess Lottery School Building Debt Service Fund. Revenue bonds issued after Jan. 1, would mature within 20 years of the issuance date. Additionally, the bill states that once debt service funds requirements have been satisfied, remaining fund balances can be used for redemption of outstanding bonds or for purchase of outstanding bonds at the market price not to exceed the price, if any, at which the bonds are redeemable. 

All bonds redeemed or purchased would be canceled and could not be reissued. Funds also could be transferred to the SBA’s School Construction Fund and used to finance school construction or improvement projects authorized in accordance with statutory requirements on a cash basis.


Construction project definition revised

A last bill provision would amend the definition of “construction project” by increasing minimum cost to qualify under the definition from $500,000 to $1,000,000.


Major improvement project definition revised

Accordingly, the bill would amend the definition of “school major improvement project” by increasing the maximum cost of a project to qualify under the definition from $500,000 to $1,000,000.

Higher education

The bill would establish a fund in the State Treasury known as the West Virginia Research Trust Fund. The fund would consist of legislative appropriations, earnings from investment of the fund and returns of unmatched funds from research universities.
Seventy percent of trust fund moneys would be used to match pledges to West Virginia University and 30 percent to Marshall University. 

The HEPC could use up to $250,000 in investment earnings for administrative costs not to exceed $250,000.The bill defines qualified donations and qualified pledges as those restricted by donor for one or more of the eligible uses. A $50,000 threshold is maintained, although qualified donations and qualified pledges may be bundled to meet this threshold. 

 

Eligible uses of endowment proceeds

The bill defines two broad categories of eligible uses of endowment proceeds by the research universities:

Research plan

To request matching moneys from the trust fund, the universities would have to submit a research plan. The research plan would include data on research initiatives; amount of expected endowment proceeds, proposed uses and anticipated costs of each use; explanation of how plan furthers purposes of this article and research needs of the institution; possible alternative funding sources; and amount allocated for distribution to the institution.

Other provisions include sections relating to how trust fund dollars are distributed to the universities, HEPC review of research initiative requests and legislative review of the program.

The bill would allow the research universities five years from the effective date of the statute to raise qualified donations to match the money in the trust fund.


Other legislation

Current law allows institutions to waive tuition and fees not to exceed five percent of the number of full time equivalency (FTE) students at the institution during the previous year. Currently, a partial waiver or total waiver of tuition and/or fees counts the same toward the total. The proposal would give higher education institutions greater flexibility regarding the number of waivers and standardizes this calculation among the institutions. Other provisions authorize state higher education institutions to grant waivers to their employees, their spouses and dependents without these waivers being counted against the five percent cap. This authority is exercised at the discretion of each governing board.

Source: Senate Education Committee staff and WVSBA reporting.

 


House Bill 4368, a measure  that would have established a five-member committee in each school in the state to consider school discipline matters, was referred to  House Education Subcommittee “’E,” Monday. Del. Stan Shaver, D-Preston, is subcommittee chairman.

The Subcommittee will meet at 1:00 p.m. Monday to consider possible bill revisions, according to Shaver.

The bill generated considerable discussion and had not been forwarded to a subcommittee prior to full House Education Committee consideration – a rare move for the committee.

Bob Morganstern, West Virginia Federation of Teachers-West Virginia official, said the measure is based on an “opinion survey of all teachers and service personnel across the state.” The survey entitled “Discipline Without Delay” was conducted by AFT-WV and the state School Service Personnel Association (WVSSPA).

Morganstern told House Education Committee members the study also considered “perceptions of the public” about student discipline and citizen sentiment was “in sync” with school employee notions about the importance of discipline in public schools.

Morganstern told House Education Committee members the study also considered “perceptions of the public” about student discipline and citizen sentiment was “in sync” with school employee notions about the importance of discipline in public schools.
He also said another purpose of the measure is to get teachers and service personnel more empowered to deal with discipline.

The central means for this empowerment as outlined in the bill would establish a five-member committee in each school to review the disciplinary practices at that school. The committee would include three teachers selected by faculty senate, one bus operator and one classroom aide selected by the state’s “largest employee organization of school service personnel members. Counsel Candace Kraus pointed out that would be WVSSPA.

Several House Education Committee members were skeptical of the committee provision, saying it duplicated other statutory committees in schools responsible for examining discipline issues, including the Local School Improvement Council (LSIC).
“Why another committee?” asked Ted Ellis, D-Logan.

Morganstern said the committee’s purpose was to “get teachers and service personnel more involved by empowering school personnel.”

House Education Committee members who work as school administrators also questioned why the committee did not include principals – a line of questioning which Del. Dave Pethtel, D-Wetzel, and several other delegates discussed for several minutes.
Morganstern, however, said the bill’s purpose was to allow teachers greater say over discipline issues and matters.

He said this would be accomplished through bill provisions that permit the committee to meet up to two hours per month during the regular instructional day to review disciplinary measures at the school, to examine “fairness and consistency of disciplinary actions at the school” and to report findings to the county superintendent.

In addition to bypassing the principal, House Education Committee members, including Shaver, discussed several bill logistics. This includes a provision that the superintendent or designee within 10 days of receiving the report is to respond in writing to the committee. County boards of education then would retain and file the correspondence for public inspection.

Del. Richard Browning, D-Wyoming, and Jeff Tansill, R-Taylor, said these provisions, especially that relating to the committee meeting on school time, constituted an “unfunded mandate.”

Other members questioned the measure’s proposed “Bill or Rights and Responsibilities for Students and School Personnel,” and if they would supersede the state Board of Education’s “Student Code of Conduct.” Morganstern said the bill’s proposed conduct code “encompasses more,” but that it would not supersede the state Board’s Student Code of Conduct.

In addition to bypassing the principal, House Education Committee members, including Shaver, discussed several bill logistics. This includes a provision that the superintendent or designee within 10 days of receiving the report is to respond in writing to the committee. County boards of education then would retain and file the correspondence for public inspection.

A final bill provision would have required county boards to conduct at “ least two county-wide meetings to engage parents, students, school employees and other interested parties in a positive and interactive dialogue regarding effective discipline policies. The meetings shall be held in geographically diverse locations within each county to maximize public attendance.”

Howard M. O’Cull, Ed.D., West Virginia School Board Association (WVSBA) executive director, said, “We concentrated on this bill aspect and some Federal Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) considerations the legislation raises. The bill, as written, didn’t provide statutory authorization for county boards to meet. We did have an amendment which would have declared these meetings as regular or special board meetings to conform to existing law and to allow members to be compensated for the meetings, although the latter was a lesser consideration.

“You just can’t declare that a county boards have ‘town meetings’ without keying-in to some statutory authorizations,” he said. He noted that both WV-AFT and the state School Service Personnel Association agreed to that amendment and concurred with the association’s FERPA concerns.

“When all is said and done the bill deliberations focused on intra-education concerns,” O’Cull said. “Our concerns were limited to the meetings provisions and the FERPA revisions. Educator members of House Education carried the debate about the rest of the issues which were more germane to them and their positions,” he said.

Following several minutes of debate, Del. Brady Paxton, D-Putnam, moved the bill be referred to a subcommittee for “study, refinement and amendments.”

More information regarding the AFT-WV and WVVPA discipline report is available at http://www.wvft.org/contact/default.asp.
Information on the legislation can be found at  http://www.wvsba.org/publications/The_Legislature/newsletter/02-04-2008.html. The article is entitled, “Measure would require county boards to conduct county-wide meetings to engage community in dialogue regarding effective discipline policies.”

 


Based on House of Delegates action Wednesday, two distinct plans have emerged for bailing out 19,100 teachers and school service personnel whose 401(k)-style retirement plans are seriously underfunded:

The House Pensions Committee Wednesday amended the Legislature's version into the governor's bill (HB4492).
Besides the multimillion-dollar cash infusion -- which legislative leaders have proposed funding from $364 million of budget surplus -- the House bill makes other changes to the governor's merger bill:

The higher threshold reduces the odds that only teachers closest to retirement age or those with the worst investment accounts would transfer. That would leave the state with a much higher liability. Under the proposal, the expense of subsidizing older teachers and service personnel would be offset by younger employees joining the plan who will have years to pay into it.

Under the proposal, the expense of subsidizing older teachers and service personnel would be offset by younger employees joining the plan who will have years to pay into it.

Low-interest loans of up to $20,000 would be available to cover buy-in payments. The loans would be repaid through payroll deductions. The governor's bill does not have loan provisions.

Harry Mandel, actuary for the state Consolidated Public Retirement, said while the merger initially would increase the unfunded liability of TRS by $176 million -- to $3.6 billion -- contributions by new participants and investment earnings on funds "swept" from the TDC accounts ultimately would put TRS closer to the black.

The plan is about 51.3 percent funded while the merger would push it to 53.9 percent to 54.5 percent, he said.

Manchin spokeswoman Lara Ramsburg said the governor's office is monitoring changes to the bill.

She said at the moment the administration's priority is to assure legislators have access to information they need on the merger options. "More than anything right now, they need to have the facts and figures and we're working to help them get the information from the retirement board," she said.

The bill goes to the House Finance Committee.

Sources: The Charleston Gazette and WVSBA reporting

 


Gov. Joe Manchin Wednesday withdrew his proposal to make the PROMISE Scholarship a loan program, citing a need for more information.

The governor has appointed Brian Noland, chancellor of the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission, to spearhead a committee to study a work requirement for the scholarship, as well as the program's academic requirements and funding needs.

"The main point in introducing PROMISE legislation this year was to raise awareness of the issues that we're facing both now and in the future with PROMISE to a level that would at the very least start a substantive discussion about the program and how best to move forward with it," Manchin said in a written release. "It is clear that this discussion has begun and what is now needed is more information."

Manchin caught some lawmakers, educators and students off guard when he made a proposal in his Jan. 9 State of the State address to require PROMISE scholars to stay in West Virginia upon graduation or pay the money back.

Critics of the proposal have said the state does not necessarily have enough jobs to keep students employed in West Virginia and many students leave the state after graduation from high school to continue their education.


Critics of the proposal have said the state does not necessarily have enough jobs to keep students employed in West Virginia and many students leave the state after graduation from high school to continue their education.

Lawmakers struggle each year to find sufficient funds for PROMISE, which is paid out of video lottery revenues.  Program costs have risen since 2002 from about $27 million to more than $40 million. Lawmakers often bemoan higher tuition at the state's public colleges and universities for the increased cost.

About 9,200 students benefited from the merit-based scholarship during the 2007-08 school year.

Noland said the governor has not completely abandoned his proposal and once the committee has concluded its study the governor will re-address the issue.

Lara Ramsburg, spokesperson for the governor, noted the bill would have required the PROMISE Board to come up with proposed legislative rules for a forgivable loan program. This would not have been addressed by the Legislature until 2009 anyway.

Noland said he has not formally selected committee members, but it will be made up of members of the House and Senate, college presidents, financial aid and student affairs representatives, and high school counselors.

Noland said he hopes to have a recommendation for the scholarship board and the governor in the fall.

Former Gov. Bob Wise introduced the merit-based scholarship in 2002. It allowed students with a 3.0 or "B" grade point average in high school and a composite score of at 22 on the ACT to attend public in-state colleges and universities tuition free.

 


Five members of the West Virginia Board of Education have been appointed to roles with the National Association of State Boards of Education (NASBE) during 2008.

Lowell Johnson has been appointed to NASBE’s Board of Directors. He is one of two representing the southern area. Johnson previously was chairman of the organization’s Governmental Affairs Committee.

Board President Delores Cook has been named to NASBE’s Governmental Affairs Committee. She previously was a member of a NASBE committee that prepared a new guide released last year for state leaders working to improve chronically low-performing schools.

Vice President Priscilla Haden is serving on NASBE’s Career Technology Education Study Group and Burma Hatfield is a member of NASBE’s Middle Schools Study Group. Barbara Fish also serves on NASBE’s Friend of Education Award Committee.

NASBE is the only national organization giving voice and adding value to the nation's state boards of education. The nonprofit organization works to strengthen state leadership in educational policymaking, promote excellence in the education of students, advocate equality of access to educational opportunity and ensure continued citizen support for public education.

More information is available by contacting the Office of Communications at (304) 558-2699. 

 


Note: The Bill Almanac may be used to track measures considered by the House and Senate Education Committees (as well as pertinent legislation from other committees). For brevity, a short title is used along with the bill’s current status. Other bill history usually is omitted. Only bills reported from subcommittee or committee are listed. Bills originating in committee usually are listed once they are given a bill number. The Legislature’s Web site link to each bill is included. Senate bills are listed first. The Bill Almanac is updated weekly. The listings are not exhaustive.
 

Senate bills

Senate Bill 9 mandating firearm safety program in public schools. Status: Senate Finance approved Feb. 12. Senate second reading Feb. 15. The Legislature’s Web site reference is:
http://www.legis.state.wv.us/Bill_Text_HTML/2008_SESSIONS/RS/BILLS/SB9%20SUB1.htm

Senate Bill 57 authorizing county boards to enter into lease-purchase agreements for lands, building and equipment. Status: Senate Education approved Jan. 22. Referred to Senate Finance. The Legislature’s Web site reference is: http://www.legis.state.wv.us/Bill_Text_HTML/2008_SESSIONS/RS/BILLS/sb57%20intr.htm

Senate Bill 65 establishing a school uniforms incentive plan project. Status: Senate Education approved Jan. 22. Referred to Senate Finance. The Legislature’s Web site address is: http://www.legis.state.wv.us/Bill_Text_HTML/2008_SESSIONS/RS/BILLS/sb65%20intr.htm

 

Senate Bill 133 relating generally to in lieu of property tax payments, including provision that each local levying body would execute payment in lieu of property tax agreements. Status: Senate Education approved Feb. 7. Referred to Senate Finance. The Legislature’s Web site reference is: http://www.legis.state.wv.us/Bill_Text_HTML/2008_SESSIONS/RS/BILLS/SB133%20SUB1.htm

Senate Bill 156 providing tuition waivers for children and spouses of National Guard and active duty military personnel. Status: Senate Education approved Feb.14. Referred to Senate Finance. The Legislature’s Web site reference is
http://www.legis.state.wv.us/Bill_Text_HTML/2008_SESSIONS/RS/BILLS/sb156%20intr.htm

Senate Bill 161 requiring the State Board of Education to develop a program to pay the General Educational Development (GED) examination fee for eligible individuals. Status: Second reference to Senate Finance Committee. The Legislature’s reference is
http://www.legis.state.wv.us/Bill_Text_HTML/2008_SESSIONS/RS/BILLS/SB161%20SUB1.htm

Senate Bill 165 relating to school employees’ donated personal leave. Status: Senate Education approved Feb. 14; Referred to Senate Finance. The Legislature’s Web site reference is:
http://www.legis.state.wv.us/Bill_Text_HTML/2008_SESSIONS/RS/BILLS/sb165%20intr.htm

Senate Bill 287 establishing the West Virginia Research Trust Fund. Status: Senate Education approved Feb. 12. Referred to Senate Finance. The Legislature’s Web site reference is
http://www.legis.state.wv.us/Bill_Text_HTML/2008_SESSIONS/RS/BILLS/SB287%20SUB1.htm

Senate Bill 297 authorizing the School Building Authority of West Virginia (SBA) to issue revenue bonds from the state Excess Lottery Fund. Status: Senate Education approved Feb. 12. Referred to Senate Finance Committee. The Legislature’s Web site reference is
http://www.legis.state.wv.us/Bill_Text_HTML/2008_SESSIONS/RS/BILLS/sb297%20intr.htm

Senate Bill 459 clarifying the rule making authority of the School Building Authority of West Virginia (SBA). Status: Forwarded to Governor Feb. 13. The Legislature’s reference for the bill is
http://www.legis.state.wv.us/Bill_Text_HTML/2008_SESSIONS/RS/BILLS/sb459%20enr.htm

Senate Bill 564 relating to higher education tuition and fee waivers. Status: Senate Education approved Feb. 12. Referred to Senate Finance. The Legislature’s Web site reference is
http://www.legis.state.wv.us/Bill_Text_HTML/2008_SESSIONS/RS/BILLS/SB564%20SUB1.htm

Senate Bill 595 establishing public and higher education goals and objectives for 2020. Status: Senate Education adopted Feb. 7. Referred to Senate Finance. The Legislature’s Web site reference is: http://www.legis.state.wv.us/Bill_Text_HTML/2008_SESSIONS/RS/BILLS/sb595%20intr.htm

Senate Bill 606 requiring hiring preference to summer school program positions (professional positions). Status: Senate Education approved Feb. 14. Referred to Senate Finance. The Legislature’s Web site reference is: http://www.legis.state.wv.us/Bill_Text_HTML/2008_SESSIONS/RS/BILLS/sb606%20intr.htm

Senate Bill 607 relating to teachers’ professional development and preparation days. Status: Senate Education approved Feb. 14.  Referred to Senate Finance. The Legislature’s Web site reference is
http://www.legis.state.wv.us/Bill_Text_HTML/2008_SESSIONS/RS/BILLS/sb607%20intr.htm

Senate Bill 610 eliminating the prohibition against having Saturday school. Status: Senate Education approved Feb. 12. Referred to Senate Finance. The Legislature’s Web site reference is
http://www.legis.state.wv.us/Bill_Text_HTML/2008_SESSIONS/RS/BILLS/sb610%20intr.htm

 

House bills

House Bill 2202 relating to granting campus police officers law enforcement powers at private institutions of higher education in this state. Status: House Education has approved; referred to House Judiciary Committee Feb. 6. The Legislature’s Web site reference is: http://www.legis.state.wv.us/Bill_Text_HTML/2008_SESSIONS/RS/BILLS/hb2202%20intr.htm



House Bill 3045 establishing the position of Bus Operator II. Status: House Education approved Jan. 21. Referred to House Finance. The Legislature’s Web site reference is: http://www.legis.state.wv.us/Bill_Text_HTML/2008_SESSIONS/RS/BILLS/hb3045%20intr.htm

House Bill 3215 removing the administrative link between Shepherd University and Blue Ridge Community and Technical College. Status: Passed House of Delegates Jan. 28. Referred to Senate Education Committee. The Legislature’s’ Web site reference is: http://www.legis.state.wv.us/Bill_Text_HTML/2008_SESSIONS/RS/BILLS/HB3215%20SUB.htm

House Bill 4023 providing for the denial or suspension of a driver's license for any student who withdraws from school or fails to receive passing grades. Status: House Education approved Feb. 11. Referred to House Judiciary. The Legislature’s Web site reference is http://www.legis.state.wv.us/Bill_Text_HTML/2008_SESSIONS/RS/amendments/HB4023%20HED%20AM%202-11.htm

House Bill 4059 allowing “currently employed” bus operators who are diagnosed with diabetes which requires usage of insulin to be eligible for employment by county boards; certain restrictions apply. Status: Passed House Feb. 8. Referred to Senate Health and Human Resources Committee then the Senate Education Committee. The West Virginia Legislature’s Web site reference is
http://www.legis.state.wv.us/Bill_Text_HTML/2008_SESSIONS/RS/amendments/HB4023%20HED%20AM%202-11.htm

House Bill 4062 relating to certification of professional educators, including alternative certification. Status: Second Reading House (inactive calendar) Feb. 15. The Legislature’s Web site reference is
http://www.legis.state.wv.us/Bill_Text_HTML/2008_SESSIONS/RS/amendments/HB4023%20HED%20AM%202-11.htm

House Bill 4124 adding CPR and First Aid to the health education curricula in public schools. Status: House Education approved Feb. 14.  (Prior reference to House Health and Human Resources Committee). The Legislature’s Web site reference is http://www.legis.state.wv.us/Bill_Text_HTML/2008_SESSIONS/RS/BILLS/hb4124%20intr.htm

House Bill 4125 increasing from $50 to $100 the amount of faculty senate funds individual classroom teachers may use for classroom supplies and similar materials, although faculty senates would continue to receive $200 per teacher. Status: Passed House Feb. 1; referred to Senate Education Committee. The Legislature’s Web site reference is http://www.legis.state.wv.us/Bill_Text_HTML/2008_SESSIONS/RS/BILLS/hb4125%20intr.htm

House Bill 4128 allowing net proceeds held for a minor to be invested in a Smart529 college savings plan. Status: House Education approved Jan. 29. Referred to House Judiciary. The Legislature’s Web site reference is http://www.legis.state.wv.us/Bill_Text_HTML/2008_SESSIONS/RS/BILLS/hb4148%20intr.htm

House Bill 4163 clarifying that if a county board moves the library funding obligation of a “special act library” from the regular tax levy to the excess levy, the library funding obligation as mandated under the special library act would cease. Status: House Education approved Feb. 14. Referred to House Finance. The Legislature’s Web site reference is http://www.legis.state.wv.us/Bill_Text_HTML/2008_SESSIONS/RS/amendments/HB4163%20H%20ED%20AM%202-15%201.htm

House Bill 4341 relating to payment of National Board for Professional Teaching Standards salary bonus to teachers who assume administrative posts. Status: House Education approved Feb. 5; referred to House Finance Committee. The Legislature’s Web site reference is http://www.legis.state.wv.us/Bill_Text_HTML/2008_SESSIONS/RS/BILLS/hb4341%20intr.htm

House Bill 4368 reducing acts of student violence and disruptive behavior through the implementation of a Bill of Rights, School Discipline Committee, series of county-wide meetings and increased penalties for chronically disruptive students. Status: Referred to a House Education Subcommittee Feb. 11. The West Virginia Legislature’s Website reference is http://www.legis.state.wv.us/Bill_Text_HTML/2008_SESSIONS/RS/BILLS/hb4368%20intr.htm

House Bill 4406 relating to state board standards for the recommended duration of school bus transportation times for students to and from school. Status: House Education approved Feb. 11. Referred to House Finance. The Legislature’s Web site reference is http://www.legis.state.wv.us/Bill_Text_HTML/2008_SESSIONS/RS/BILLS/hb4406%20intr.htm

House Bill 4407 requiring automatic tire chains as standard equipment on all new school buses. Status: House Education approved Feb. 14. The Legislature’s Web site reference is http://www.legis.state.wv.us/Bill_Text_HTML/2008_SESSIONS/RS/BILLS/hb4407%20intr.htm

House Bill 4433 increasing the maximum amount of a medical student loan that may be cancelled. Status: House Education adopted Feb. 5. Referred to House Finance. The Legislature’s Web site reference is http://www.legis.state.wv.us/Bill_Text_HTML/2008_SESSIONS/RS/BILLS/HB4433%20intr.htm

House Bill 4434 establishing a higher education energy and water savings revolving loan fund. Status: House Education approved Feb. 5. Referred to House Finance. The Legislature’s Web site reference is
http://www.legis.state.wv.us/Bill_Text_HTML/2008_SESSIONS/RS/BILLS/HB4434%20intr.htm

House Bill 4449 permitting the Higher Education Policy Commission (HEPC) and the West Virginia Council for Community and Technical College Education (CCTCE) to enter into lease-purchase agreements for capital improvements, including equipment Status: Passed House Education Feb. 5. Referred to House Finance. The Legislature’s Web site reference is: http://www.legis.state.wv.us/Bill_Text_HTML/2008_SESSIONS/RS/BILLS/HB4449%20intr.htm

House Bill 4477 allowing the state Board of Education to pay GED examination fee; certain conditions and restrictions. Status: House Education approved Feb. 7. Referred to House Finance. The Legislature’s Web site reference is http://www.legis.state.wv.us/Bill_Text_HTML/2008_SESSIONS/RS/BILLS/HB4477%20intr.htm

House Bill 4478 limiting mid-year transfer of certain school employees working with students with exceptionalities such as autism. Status: House Education approved Feb. 7. The Legislature’s Web site reference is
http://www.legis.state.wv.us/Bill_Text_HTML/2008_SESSIONS/RS/BILLS/HB4477%20intr.htm

Note: Since it originated in committee, the House Public School Support Program bill has yet to receive a bill number.

 


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

√√Twentieth Day - January 28, 2008: Submission of Legislative Rule-Making Review bills due. (WV Code §29A-3-12)

Forty-first Day - February 18, 2008: Last day to introduce bills in the Senate and House. Does not apply to originating or supplementary appropriation bills. (Senate Rule 14), (House Rule 91a) Does not apply to Senate and House resolutions or concurrent resolutions.

Forty-seventh Day - February 24, 2008: Bills due out of committees in house of origin to ensure three full days for readings.

Fiftieth Day - February 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)

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


--Source: West Virginia Legislature


Administrative Perspective


By Martha Dean

My column this week is shorter than usual. I am in Tampa, Fla., attending the National Conference on Education. But, before leaving Charleston, I attended legislative meetings Monday and Tuesday.

House Education Committee met Monday and had three bills on the agenda.

Considered first was House Bill 4368, described as reducing acts of student violence and disruptive behavior and increasing penalties for chronically disruptive students. This bill is concerned with changing the methods of discipline in schools.

It mandates every county board of education to have at least two public hearings annually “to engage parents, students, school employees and other interested parties in a positive and interactive dialogue regarding effective discipline policies.” It would establish a five-member committee in each school consisting of three teachers, one bus operator and one aide “to review disciplinary practices at that school.” Committee had many questions directed to committee members regarding that provision. The bill was assigned to Subcommittee E when it appeared there were so many questions the bill might need additional work. Stan Shaver, D-Preston, is subcommittee chairman.

The next bill was House Bill 4023, legislation from the governor. It would require students to have at least a “C” average to get and/or keep driver’s licenses. The measure had been assigned to House Education Subcommittee B. It was revised to strengthen current statutory attendance law provisions and to require students to make “satisfactory progress toward graduation” to get or keep a driver’s licenses.

The next bill was House Bill 4023, legislation from the governor. It would require students to have at least a “C” average to get and/or keep driver’s licenses. The measure had been assigned to House Education Subcommittee B. It was revised to strengthen current statutory attendance law provisions and to require students to make “satisfactory progress toward graduation” to get or keep a driver’s licenses.

The current school-related form a student uses to get a driver’s license would be changed to a Driver’s Eligibility Certificate. School officials would have to certify “satisfactory progress,” which amounts to no more than 10 consecutive or 15 total unexcused absences in current and previous school semesters.

Additionally, students must not have been suspended or expelled in current and previous school semesters for assault and battery on school employees or other serious offenses, and have not been suspended for more than 10 total days in current and previous school semesters. After passing House Education Committee, the bill was referred to House Judiciary Committee.

House Bill 4406 was the final bill considered Monday. If passed by the Legislature, it would codify the state Board of Education’s recommended travel times for different ages of students. It would prohibit schools included in a closure, consolidation or new construction project approved after July 1 from establishing a new bus route for PreK-5 students that exceeds the recommended guideline by more than 15 minutes.

The bill also would allow the state Board of Education to grant an exception up to 15 minutes beyond the WVBE’s travel time guidelines to a maximum bus travel time of 60 minutes for PreK-5. The bill passed and was referred to House Finance Committee on second reference.

Challenge West Virginia members have been trying to limit the length of bus runs for some time. They attended the meeting and expressed their gratitude to the committee.

House Education Subcommittee A met Tuesday concerning the school funding formula bill. I was unable to go to the meeting, but I did speak to Del. David Perry, D-Fayette, after the meeting. The subcommittee changed part of the bill dealing with counties with fewer than 1,400 students by giving them one-half of an increase to 1,400 students as I understand it. It also added a section that would dedicate the annual increase in local share revenue (not the 2007 House Bill 541 moneys counties get) to fund teacher salaries.

Senate Education met Tuesday afternoon. It passed out Senate Bill 610 which would eliminate the prohibition of Saturday School. 

Senate Bill 287 would establish the West Virginia Research Trust Fund to encourage WVU and Marshall University to raise private funds and use both state and private money to establish a foundation and use the earnings on the principal for research.

Senate Bill 297 would permit the School Building Authority of West Virginia to funds from the state Excess Lottery Fund to sell bonds and pay them off with future years allocations. This generated a lot of discussion, particularly because of using money that is coming from a fund that the revenue is not a certain amount. The bill passed out of Senate Education Committee and has been referred to Senate Finance Committee. 

The final bill passed was Senate Bill 564 which relates to who will be provided tuition fee waivers.

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

 

WVSBA Briefs

County school board members and superintendents should be making appointments with legislators in advance of the West Virginia School Board Association’s Winter Conference Feb. 22-23 at the Charleston Marriott Town Center Hotel.


 “Now is the time to call delegates and senators to make appointments for Feb. 22. That is the 45th day of the session and will be hectic because it is the last day for bills to be reported from a committee in both houses. Please act now,” said Howard M. O’Cull, Ed.D. WVSBA executive director.

He explained a bus will depart for the Capitol at 8:45 a.m. The bus will depart from there at Noon for the Marriott Hotel.

Dr. Martha Dean, director of the state school administrators association, and O’Cull have forwarded information regarding county board members and superintendents being in Charleston and have notified them about the box lunches that will be available that day.

The major focus of the conference will relate to the state’s Public School Support Program (PSSP), according to O’Cull. He said that is very timely.

“With the Legislature seriously considering PSSP reforms, members should attend WVSBA’s program to learn more about the ‘haws’ and ‘whys’ of some PSSP recommendations that likely will become law this year.

“I urge you to attend. Sometimes, especially fiscal policy discussion, it helps to understand context, philosophy and reasoning of those who developed recent PSSP reforms.”

O’Cull noted that Cal Kent, Ph.D., will lead the program. He has been a primary consultant to the Senate/House PSSP study group which has met during interim meetings the last three years.

Copies of the latest PSSP legislative proposal(s) will be distributed to members at the meeting and in advance of the meeting if information is available. The latest House Education Committee proposals are posted on WVSBA’s Website – www.wvsba.org.

In other conference-related programming, O’Cull noted that First Lady Gayle Manchin is keynote speaker.

“I join WVSBA President Sally Can in welcoming Mrs. Manchin as our conference keynote speaker. She will be speaking from the vantage of first lady as well as a member of the West Virginia Board of Education.”

The conference will conclude with a discussion concerning a recent West Virginia Ethics Commission opinion concerning how public entities are to consider input from delegations. Presenters include Howard Seufer Jr., association counsel, and WVEC Executive Director Lew Brewer.

Other conference programs will include two open forums – one strictly dealing with legislation and the other “participant-lead.”

Saturday, Feb. 23, programming will feature a general session relating to school health and nutrition. Association President Cann (Harrison) will be present at that session along with WVBE member Barbara Fish (Wood).

The conference will conclude with a discussion about a recent West Virginia Ethics Commission opinion concerning how public entities are to consider input from delegations. Presenters include Howard Seufer Jr., association counsel, and WVEC Executive Director Lew Brewer.

A copy of that opinion will be mailed before the conference so members can prepare for the session.

The program adjourns at noon.

The association’s Executive Board will meet be at 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 21, at the Charleston Marriott.

The FY09 annual business meeting will be at 8 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 23. Executive officers and regional officers will be elected during the conference.

Note: WVSBA Administrative Assistant Shirley Davidson urged members to contact county board executive secretaries to register for the conference if they have not yet done so. 

 


As noted in the Feb. 1 issue of The Legislature online newsletter, the following are procedures for those interested in seeking WVSBA executive offices at the FY09 Annual Business Meeting:

All Executive Committee slots are open for nominations, including president, president-elect, vice president and financial officer. Debbie Phillips (Putnam) now serves as vice president and Rick Snuffer (Raleigh) serves as financial officer. Steve Cook (Monongalia) had served as president-elect, but due to his opting to run for Monongalia County Commission, that position is vacant. Thus, delegates to the FY09 Annual Business Meeting are responsible for electing a president, president-elect, vice president and financial officer. While current Executive Officers Philips and Snuffer may apply for those positions, they are open for application by any member of the association based on procedures below.

Association Constitution and Bylaws state nominees for any elective association position may be made from the floor with the consent of the one(s) being nominated. Persons have until Feb. 20 to apply for positions. The committee prefers one apply by an e-mail forwarded to each member of the committee,  although members may apply in writing. No telephone applications will be accepted. Once one applies, he or she will receive notification their application has been received. The Nominating Committee’s role from that point is to collate the name(s) of persons applying, reporting the final tally of names to the WVSBA Executive Board at the Feb. 21 meeting. The executive board’s only role, at this point is to receive the report.

Friday, Feb. 22, at the conclusion of the association’s Winter Conference First General Session, each person(s) having applied for an executive officer position will be allotted three minutes to respond to three questions the Nominating Committee will pose. A member of the Nominating Committee will provide each applicant a copy of three questions 30 minutes in advance. Strict timelines will be observed. As questions are distributed, lots will be drawn as to applicants’ sequence in making remarks.
Please contact only members of the Nominating Committee if you have questions about the procedure(s). Do not contact any member of the association staff for this purpose or member of the WVSBA Executive Board.

Regional directors and associate regional directors will be elected at caucuses Feb. 23, following the election for executive officers. Regional officers will be contacted to determine if they wish to continue to serve, particularly individuals who rarely attend executive board meetings. If a current officer does not want to continue to serve that point will be noted during regional caucuses.
Announcement of WVSBA Nominating Committee procedures will be posted in each  “Friday” issue of The Legislature published prior to the Winter Conference. If you have questions or comments, please contact Pete Dougherty. His contact information is:  telephone 202.461.7390 (work) or email peteboe@yahoo.com and pete.doughertyt@va.gov.

Judi Almond (Raleigh) also serves on the committee, along with Pat Jones (Barbour). Their contact information is: 304.255.6722 or judialmond@hotmail.com and 304.457.3894 or patchingaps@msn.com.

 


Thursday, Feb. 21  
7:00 PM WVSBA Executive Board Meeting
Friday, Feb. 22  
8:45 AM Visits to Capitol
1:00 PM First Lady Gayle Manchin Keynote Speaker
2:00 PM “The School Aid Formula: Past, Present, Future Considerations”

Presenter: Cal Kent, vice president for business and economic research at Marshall University

Panel Discussion: Representatives of county boards, superintendents, legislators,  etc.

Question/Comment Period

Concluding Remarks
2:30 PM Refreshment Break
4:00 PM Presentation of Candidates for WVSBA Executive Officers Positions
4:15 PM Adjournment
7:00 PM Participant Discussions

Session I: General Topics

Session II: 2008 Legislation
Saturday, Feb. 23  
7:00 AM Breakfest
8:00 AM Annual Business Meeting
9:00 AM West Virginia Board of Education Nutrition Policies / School Health



Policies: Barbara Fish (Wood), WVBE member, and Sally Cann (Harrison), WVSBA president
10:00 AM Refreshment Break
10:15 AM West Virginia Ethics Commission Rulings Regarding “Delegations”/Meetings Management

Howard E. Seufer Jr. of Bowles, Rice, McDavid, Graff & Love, WVSBA Counsel; and Lewis Brewer, executive director of West Virginia Ethics Commission
Noon Adjournment

 


WVSBA Winter Conference
Feb. 22-23
Marriott Hotel, Charleston

 

WVSBA Orientation ’08
June 16-18
Waterfront Place Hotel, Morgantown

 

WVSBA Presidents Retreat '08
July 18-19
Glade Springs Resort, Daniels

 

WVSBA Fall Conference
Sept. 12-13
Marriott Hotel, Charleston


WVSBA November Workshop ‘08
November 1
Stonewall Resort, Roanoke

 

 

Applications for the position of Upshur County Schools must be received by 4 p.m., Feb. 29, 2008, according to Lance Koury, Upshur County Board of Education president.

More information regarding the vacancy is posted on the West Virginia School Board Association Website home page. The listing is included under “Job Postings” with a link to the Upshur “Notice of Position Vacancy.”

Applicants should include a letter expressing interest in the position, a resume´, and no more than three letters of recommendation. The application envelope should be marked "Superintendent's Application" and mailed to the address below or submitted electronically to lance@cebridge.net.

Mail To:
Mr. Lance Koury, board president
P. O. Box 110
Buckhannon, WV 26201


Resources


By Jack Wiseman

West Virginia’s Financial Aid Information and Resources (WV-FAIR) is an initiative geared to supplement efforts aimed at increasing our state’s college-going rate.

According to 2000 Census data, West Virginia has the nation’s lowest educational attainment rate as measured by the percentage of adult population (25-years-old and older) with a bachelor’s degree. Only 15.3 percent of the state’s adults have earned a bachelor’s degree.

If parents presume college is too expensive and if they are not aware of financial assistance, they will not encourage their children to pursue post-secondary education. The WV-FAIR program plans to focus on this lack of parental awareness as a strategy for increasing post-secondary attendance.

The national average and averages of neighboring states in the Appalachia Region are substantially higher than here. West Virginia trails the nation and other states in the Appalachian Region in educational attainment. This is a major impediment to self-sustaining economic development and improving the quality of life in the state.

A primary reason for West Virginia’s low education attainment rate is the lack of awareness among parents and guardians about financial aid that can make post-secondary education more affordable.

If parents presume college is too expensive and if they are not aware of financial assistance, they will not encourage their children to pursue post-secondary education. The WV-FAIR program plans to focus on this lack of parental awareness as a strategy for increasing post-secondary attendance.

WV-FAIR’s work will focus on three activities:
  1. developing informational materials,
  2. conducting outreach to students, parents, teachers and counselors and
  3. providing parents with additional follow-up information and technical assistance.
WV-FAIR conducts outreach in 35 counties. More than 18,000 students and parents have been educated to WV-FAIR programming.
You may access WV-FAIR by visiting www.wvfair.org

Jack Wiseman is executive of West Virginia Partnership to Ensure Student Success (WVPASS), a program operating from the state Secretary of Education and the Arts Office in Charleston. He is a Jackson County school board member, has served as a school administrator and as the West Virginia School Board Association’s state Secondary Schools Activities Committee representative. 

 

Commentary


 By Priscilla Haden

 Just last month, headlines announced the U.S. population topped 300 million. By 2050, there could be 400 million Americans.

Today the United States stands out as the only leading industrial power with a surging population. In time, India also will have a growing population. Interesting enough and to the surprise of many, our population is growing faster than that of China.

This population surge is unique in our history. Not only are we adding to the pool "We the people," we are facing serious challenges. Unlike other nations united by blood, language, or religion, Americans are united by our values and principles. Among them are: Individual right of life, liberty, property and the pursuit of happiness; common or public good; justice; quality under law and the rule of law; constitutional government; openness and free inquiry; truth, and patriotism.

Our challenge as educators is how do we enable young Americans to understand at a deep level what those values and principles mean and why they are the glue that holds us together and makes us "We the people"?

Our challenge as educators is how do we enable young Americans to understand at a deep level what those values and principles mean and why they are the glue that holds us together and makes us "We the people"?

 When it comes to civic education, we Americans exhibit some puzzling attitudes and behaviors. Ever since the time of our founding fathers in the 1700s, we have vowed that a primary purpose of public education should be preparation of citizens. Yet there is evidence of failure of delivering the civic mission to our schools.

Time and attention devoted to civic education in schools K-12 is insufficient. Long standing requirements that every college graduate demonstrates knowledge of our Constitution and the history and government of the United States have been abandoned at most universities.

Although federal No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) legislation speaks of core learning, only reading and mathematics are used to measure school success. Science is a poor third and civic education is forgotten.

We in West Virginia are on the right track. We just added as a requirement in the 12th grade a civics course. Our state Board of Education and the Department of Education have realized the necessity of civic education in delivering 21st century skills.

We are fortunate to have so many organizations in West Virginia that sponsor patriotic events and programs that teach our students about government and citizenship. We do have excellent role models in our churches, schools and citizenry.

Although federal No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) legislation speaks of core learning, only reading and mathematics are used to measure school success. Science is a poor third and civic education is forgotten.

The West Virginia House of Delegates under the leadership of Education Chairwoman Mary Poling, D-Barbour, and Del. David Perry, D-Fayette, passed a resolution last year that established a Council for Civic Literacy. This group had it first meeting in December of 2007 and those who attended wanted to proceed. There is so much to do if only in establishing possibilities that are open to each county board member, superintendents, principals and teachers.

In some sense this article is preaching to the choir. However, support for the civic mission of schools must come from local officials and county school boards. We can connect civic and religious groups, teach how to trust and respect others, connect to others through family and friends, provide understanding of giving and volunteering, make sure our students stay informed on issues in this country and create global awareness.

The work of restoring the civic mission of our schools has only begun. I hope each of you intend to see this important mission is accomplished. Indeed, we are "We the people."

Priscilla Haden is West Virginia Board of Education vice president.

 

By Patrick A. Leggett

We all know someone who has elevated the process of complaining to a high art. Sometimes funny and sometimes exhausting, these individuals have the ability to find a problem about anywhere. In its more evolved form, complaining is simply the ability to see what is not working in one’s own life or in the external world. It can be quite useful if followed to its natural conclusion­ in finding a solution and applying it. However, many of us do not get that far and we find complaining has become an end in itself. In small doses, this is not a big problem. But if complaining has become a huge part of our identities, it may be time to take a good look at how we are spending our energy.

Complaining is a way of acknowledging one is not happy with the way things are. In a metaphorical way, when we complain or criticize, we are tearing down an undesirable structure to make room for something new. But if all we do is tear down, never bothering to summon the energy required to create something new, we are not fulfilling the process. In fact, we are at risk for becoming a stagnant and destructive force in our own lives and the lives of the people we love.

Another issue with complaining is we sometimes tend to focus on other people, whom we can’t change, as a way of deflecting attention from the one person we can change­ -- ourselves. So transforming complaining into something useful is a twofold process. It begins with turning our critical eye to things we can do something about and taking positive action.

When we find ourselves complaining, the last thing we need to do is get down on ourselves. Instead, we can begin by noticing we are in the mode of wanting to make changes. But rather than lashing out at somebody or an organization, we can look for an appropriate place to channel this energy -- ­not our neighbor’s house, but possibly parts of our own.

Finally, we can ask ourselves the positive question of what we would like to create in place of what we want to tear down. When we do this, we channel a negative habit into a creative and positive process.


I Wish You Enough
 
I wish you enough sun to keep your attitude bright.
 
I wish you enough rain to appreciate the sun more.
 
I wish you enough happiness to keep your spirit alive.
 
I wish you enough pain so that the smallest joys in life appear much bigger.
 
I wish you enough gain to satisfy your wanting.
 
I wish you enough loss so you appreciate all that you possess.
 
I wish you enough hellos to get you through the final goodbye.


Patrick A. Leggett, MA, NCC is school counselor at Point Pleasant (WV) High School.

Perry Bryant is executive director of West Virginians for Affordable Health Care
His contact information is perrybryant@suddenlink.net

www.wvahc.org 304-344-1673 (Work)/304-533-7941 (Mobile telephone).

 

ETC.


Officials at a junior high school spiked an edition of the student newspaper because it contained a recipe for hot chocolate that included peppermint schnapps.

The January edition of Stillwell Junior High School's quarterly Tiger Tracks was pulled off the racks when the boozy recipe was discovered, Principal Tim Miller said. A student at the West Des Moines school submitted the recipe, which slipped through the editing process, Miller said.

Miller described the mistake as an honest one, saying the student who submitted the recipe thought schnapps was a type of candy.

From The Associated Press

 

 

“Dost thou know, my son, with how little wisdom the world is governed?” – Count Oxenstierna (Swedish statesman, 1583-1654).

 

“We’re doing things twice when we only need to do it once.”
– Del. Richard Browning, D-Wyoming, discussing court-mandated schooling for suspended or expelled students.

“They (students) can’t just be showing up and sleeping.”
– House Education Counsel David Mohr discussing a provision in the governor’s driver’s license bill which requires students to show “satisfactory progress toward graduation”  to receive and maintain a driver’s license.

“We’ve got a double motion there. It should speed things up.”
– House Education Committee Vice Chairman Brady Paxton, D-Putnam, discussing a simultaneous motion for committee approval of a bill. Dels. David Perry, D-Fayette, and Stan Shaver, D-Preston, made the dual motion.

“This is revenue neutral.” 
--School Building Authority of West Virginia Executive Director Mark Manchin, Ed.D., discussing the governor’s plan to leverage $19 million in excess lottery funds for new school construction.

 

Last Word


By Darren LaSorte. 

Senate Bill 9, introduced by Sens. Billy Wayne Bailey and Shirley Love, would prove to be an enormous boon to the people and wildlife in West Virginia. The legislation requires “Hunter Education” to be offered as a two-week elective component of high school physical education classes. If given the option of education over ignorance, education should prevail every time. 

“Hunter Education” being offered in high school would encourage more of the state’s children to preserve West Virginia’s rich sporting heritage. In particular, it would bring benefits of hunting and firearms safety to teenagers in urban areas. They otherwise may never have the opportunity to be exposed to proper safety procedures and the activity that teaches young citizens individual responsibility and a respect for the outdoors as few others can. Parents who have always wanted their children to be exposed to firearms safety and hunting, but who have not found the time would finally have a convenient means of getting the job done.

Hunter education in high school would help take kids away from television and video games that serve only as a brain-drain and get them into the woods where they can learn about nature and engage in physical and mental exercise. They would learn the sense of accomplishment associated with providing nutritious food for themselves and their families. This taste of unadulterated pride would drive them to achieve in every other aspect of life.

Over the last decade, hunters in the Mountain State have declined by 10 percent. This is concerning for a number of reasons, not the least of which relates to wildlife management. Hunters are the nation’s true conservationists. More than anyone, they depend on healthy wildlife populations to pursue their passion. Hunters pay the way for wildlife and habitat preservation through license fees and excise taxes paid on equipment.  Regulated hunting has been responsible for flourishing populations of deer, bear and wild turkey -- animals rarely seen in the state only a half-century ago. If hunting dies out, it is likely wildlife will, too.

Hunter education in high school would help take kids away from television and video games that serve only as a brain-drain and get them into the woods where they can learn about nature and engage in physical and mental exercise. They would learn the sense of accomplishment associated with providing nutritious food for themselves and their families. This taste of unadulterated pride would drive them to achieve in every other aspect of life.

West Virginia’s hunters generate $360 million a year in economic activity and are responsible for maintaining 4,000 jobs throughout the state. This has real impact on countless families from Morgantown to Bluefield.  Ensuring future generations of hunters would keep this enormous economic engine steaming along.

According to the National Safety Council, hunting is one of the safest forms of recreation. More education in schools would make a safe activity even safer. Hunter education in high school would perpetuate hunting, one of the noblest American pursuits. The state’s citizens, families, wildlife and economy would all be better for it. Senators Bailey and Love should be commended for their efforts and Senate Bill 9 should become law.

Darren LaSorte

National Rifle Association – Institute for Legislative Action

Manager of Hunting Policy

Note: This legislation will be discussed in the Feb. 21 issue of The Legislature.


*

 

The Legislature is published by the West Virginia School Board 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 Board 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”