Governor wants 'bold action' from state school board
Manchin urges stands on calendar, charter schools
By Davin White
CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Gov. Joe Manchin strongly urged state Board of Education members Wednesday to take a leadership role and push for changes that could help West Virginia secure $80 million in federal education dollars.
"You need bold action," he told board members.
The state learned on March 4 that it is not among the 15 states and the District of Columbia named as finalists for the Obama administration's $4.35 billion "Race to the Top" competition. A second round begins this summer.
During a Wednesday afternoon meeting of the state school board, Manchin said board members need to take a stand on often-controversial issues like charter schools and school calendar changes.
For instance, Manchin cited the 43-week rule. It says the school calendar cannot extend beyond a 43-week window or else teacher and service worker contracts would have to be renegotiated.
"You all have to take a stand on that," he said.
Manchin also said he supports charter schools, and noted that state Sen. Erik Wells, D-Kanawha, has been talking about the issue. On March 2, Wells withdrew his bill to create charter schools, knowing it would be defeated in the House of Delegates. At the time, Wells criticized the state's teachers unions, who are opposed to charter schools.
Charter schools often receive public money but run independently of a local board of education. Parents, teachers and a principal typically run the charter.
"Take the lead on some of these things so we can work on it," Manchin said.
He said legislators have asked where the school board stands on several education issues as they await a special legislative session on education.
Manchin said there's "no sense in making code changes unless you all take the lead on it."
If there are differences of opinion on specific issues, that needs to be known, he said, but everything "needs to be on the table."
"I wanted to make sure we're all on the same page before we move forward," he said, later adding, "I'm not going to do a special session if you all don't want."
State Superintendent of Schools Steve Paine said he looks forward to working with Manchin.
School board President Priscilla Haden said the board wants to work with Manchin, but must wait for the federal government to evaluate West Virginia's first Race to the Top application.
A heated discussion followed after Manchin left the meeting.
Board member Gayle Manchin, the governor's wife, said she is embarrassed that when the state takes over counties like McDowell, student achievement still lags even after 10 years of state control.
She added that the state Department of Education should be embarrassed that it can't make better improvements because state law or policy ties its hands.
She said she hopes the same won't be said of Fayette County schools, where the state board intervened last month.
"I hope in 10 years we're not saying we can't do anything because our hands are tied," she said.
Paine admitted some shortcomings in McDowell, but said the state had done good things after taking over counties like Hampshire and Logan.
"I'm not ready to say that we're not effective," he said.
Board member Wade Linger asked whether the state Office of Education Performance Audits ever evaluates or audits top employees and programs within the Department of Education.
Kenna Seal, director of the OEPA, said his office does not.
"Do we have a system set up to defend the status quo?" Linger asked.
Paine disagreed, saying necessary changes begin with the state code.
For instance, efforts to evaluate teachers once a year and another to make it easier for the state to fire principals in low-performing schools have failed to gain much support in the Legislature. Both proposals align with what President Obama and U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan support.