A Guide to the Records of the Virginia Office of the Secretary of Education, 1998-2006 Virginia, Secretary of Education, Records, 1998-2006 43510

A Guide to the Records of the Virginia Office of the Secretary of Education, 1998-2006

A Collection in
the Library of Virginia
Accession Numbers 43510


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Library of Virginia

The Library of Virginia
800 East Broad Street
Richmond, Virginia 23219-8000
USA
Email: archdesk@lva.virginia.gov(Archives)
URL: http://www.lva.virginia.gov/

© 2008 By The Library of Virginia. All Rights Reserved.

Processed by: Roger E. Christman

Repository
The Library of Virginia
Accession Number
43510
Title
Records of the Virginia Office of the Secretary of Education 1998-2006
Extent
52.08 cu. ft.
Language
English

Administrative Information

Access Restrictions

Collection is open to research.

Use Restrictions

Privacy protected and confidential information is restricted from public access for 75 years per Code of Virginia 42.1-78. If redaction was not an option, the entire document was sealed, but not removed from the collection. Sealed information may include, but is not limited to: attorney-client privileged documents, medical information, social security numbers, and official student records. Attorney-client privileged documents are closed indefinitely.

Preferred Citation

Records of the Virginia Office of the Secretary of Education, 1998-2006, Accession 43510. State Records Collection, Library of Virginia

Acquisition Information

Office of the Secretary of Education, Patrick Henry Building, 1111 E. Broad Street, Richmond, Virginia, 23219. Accession 4233 transferred 5 December 2005 and accessioned on 6 December 2006; Accession 42399 transferred on 18 January 2006 and accessioned on 19 January 2006; both accessions combined into one body of records under accession 43510 on 2 November 2007.

Historical Information

In 1970, the Governor's Management Commission Study recommended the creation of six "Deputy Governors" assist the Chief Executive in his managerial duties, compatible functions of government were grouped under these administrative heads, who would serve as the Governors top management team or "secretariats," as they are called now. The General Assembly in 1972 created six Secretariats positions initially. As government reorganized, that number fluctuated when government agencies expanded or consolidated.

The Secretary of Education assists the Governor in the development and implementation of the state's education policy. The secretary provides guidance to 16 colleges and universities, the Virginia Community College System, five higher education and research centers, the Department of Education, the state-supported museums, and other agencies in the Education Secretariat. All secretaries are appointed by the governor and serve at his will.

During the Administration of Governor Mark R. Warner (2002-2006) the Secretary of Education directed policy for education programs that involve multiple agencies including: Department of Education, Library of Virginia, Frontier Culture Museum of Virginia, Gunston Hall, Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation, Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, Science Museum of Virginia and Virginia Commission for the Arts. While Virginia's Colleges and Universities are semi-autonomous, the Secretary of Education also plays a role in directing state policy for: Virginia Community Colleges, Christopher Newport University, George Mason University, James Madison University, Longwood University, Mary Washington University, Norfolk State University, Old Dominion University, Radford University, Richard Bland College, University of Virginia, Virginia Commonwealth University, Virginia Military Institute, Virginia State University, Virginia Tech, College of William and Mary, Roanoke Higher Education Center, Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center, and State Council of Higher Education.

Some of Governor Warner's education initiatives were: Higher Education restructuring, Education for a Lifetime, and Partnership for Achieving Successful Schools (PASS).

On 17 December 2002, Governor-elect Mark R. Warner named Dr. Belle S. Wheelan as Secretary of Education. Since 1998 Wheelan had served as President of Northern Virginia Community College. Previously, Wheelen served as President of Central Virginia Community College in Lynchburg, Provost of the Portsmouth campus of Tidewater Community College, Dean of Student Services at Thomas Nelson Community College in Hampton, and Director of Developmental Education and Director of Academic Support Services at San Antonio College in Texas. Wheelan served until June 2005 when she became president of the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. She was succeeded by her deputy, Peter Blake. Blake served until the end of the Warner administration in January 2006.

Scope and Content

The Secretary of Education, Records, are housed in one hundred fifty (150 boxes). The collection is arranged into six (6) series. Series have been designated for: I. Cabinet Meeting Records, 2002-2005; II. Correspondence and Supporting Documentation - Assigned State Agencies, 1998-2005; III. Constituent Correspondence, 2002-2005; IV. Office of the Secretary, 2002-2006; V. Planning and Budget Files, 2001-2005; and VI. Special Projects and Governor's Initiatives, 2001-2006. These records include agendas, agreements, articles, briefings, correspondence, e-mails, grants, handouts, legislation, lists, memorandums, minutes, notes, presentations, press releases, reports, resumes, speeches, studies, surveys and files by subject. These records document the work of the Secretary of Education under Governor Mark R. Warner. The most significant and voluminous material documents the development and implementation of the various educational initiatives of the Warner Administration including: Governor's Advisory Commission on Higher Education Board Appointments, Governor's Higher Education Summit, expanding College and University Research, Higher Education Restructuring, Education for a Lifetime Initiative (Early Childhood Initiative, Path to Industry Certification, Career and Technical Education, and School Efficiency Reviews), Governor's Partnership for Achieving Successful Schools (PASS), Commission to Review, Study, and Reform Educational Leadership, and High School Reform.

Arrangement

This collection is arranged into the following series:

I. Cabinet Meeting Records, 2002-2005 II. Correspondence and Supporting Documentation, Assigned State Agencies, 1998-2005 Subseries A. Board Appointments, 2002-2005 Subseries B. Higher Education and State Agencies, 1998-2005 Subseries C. Continuity of Operations Planning (COOP), 2003-2005 Subseries D. Small, Women-owned and Minority Business (SWAM), 2003-2005 III. Constituent Correspondence, 2002-2005 IV. Office of the Secretary, 2001-2006 Subseries A. Correspondence of Secretary Belle Wheelan (2002-2005) and Secretary Peter Blake (2005-2006), 2002-2006 Subseries B. Files of Sarah Finley, Deputy Secretary of Education, 2001-2005 V. Planning and Budget Files, 2001-2005 VI. Special Projects and Governor's Initiatives, 2001-2006 Subseries A. Higher Education, 2001-2006 Subseries B. Education for a Lifetime Initiative, 2002-2005 Subseries C. The Governor's Partnership for Achieving Successful Schools (PASS), 2002-2005 Subseries D. Commission to Review, Study and Reform Educational Leadership, 2002-2005 Subseries E. Teachers, 2002-2005 Subseries F. High School Reform, 2004-2005 Subseries G. Healthy Virginians, 2003-2005

Contents List

I. Cabinet Meeting , 2002-2005 .
Boxes 1-2
Extent: 0.70 cu. ft.

The Cabinet Meeting Records series is housed in 2 boxes and is arranged chronologically. Series contains agenda's, handwritten meeting notes, and materials collected and/or presented at the governor's cabinet meetings by the Secretary of Education (Dr. Belle S. Wheelan, 2002-2005 and Peter Blake, 2005) and any annotations to the material made by the Secretary. There are not extant notes for every cabinet meeting. See Governor Mark R. Warner, Executive Office, Cabinet Meeting Journals for additional cabinet meeting information (accession 42621).

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II. Correspondence and Supporting Documentation: Assigned State Agencies , 1998-2005 .
Boxes 3-30
Extent: 11.03 cubic feet (32 boxes).

Series is arranged into four subseries. Subseries have been designated for: A. Board Appointments; B. Community Colleges, Universities and State Agencies; C. Continuity of Operation Planning; and D. SWAM. This series documents the correspondence sent and received by the office to and from state agencies assigned to the Secretary of Education, including colleges and universities. The series consists of agendas, agreements, correspondence, handouts, memorandum, notes, presentations, reports, and resumes.

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III. Constituent Correspondence , 2002-2005 .
Boxes 31-64
Extent: 11.90 cubic feet (34 boxes).

The Constituent Correspondence series is housed in 34 archival boxes and is arranged roughly by chronological order by last action taken. This series documents constituent correspondence received by the Office of the Secretary of Education during Governor Mark Warner's administration. This series contains correspondence from various constituents to Governor Mark W. Warner, along with a copy of Belle Wheelan's (2002-2005) or Peter Blake's (2005-2006) letter in response, and a page from the people summary database which includes the name, address, and phone number of the correspondent. Each letter in this series contains a unique tracking number assigned by the Governor's Office Constituent Services. Records are arranged by outgoing tracking number.

Some of the notable correspondence in this series relates to the following topics: No Child Left Behind, Tuition Assistance Grant (TAG) program, education funding, Standards of Learning (SOL), budget cuts in state aid to public libraries, college tuition increases, teacher salaries, consolidating the Virginia School for the Deaf and Blind, school vouchers, PASS initiative, in-state tuition for illegal immigrants, Virginia Tech admission policies, University of Virginia parking garage, Virginia Tech's admission to the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC), Mary Washing College name change, and proposal for a new university in the Martinsville-Henry County region.

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IV. Office of the Secretary , 2001-2006 .
Boxes 65-804
Extent: 8.40 cubic feet (24 boxes).

The Office of the Secretary series is housed in 24 archival boxes and is arranged into two subseries. Subseries have been designated for: A. Correspondence of Secretary Belle Wheelan (2002-2005) and Secretary Peter Blake (2005-2006), 2002-2006; and B. Files of Sarah Finley, Deputy Secretary of Education. This series documents the Office of the Secretary's response to primarily constituent correspondence. This series contains correspondence from Belle Wheelan's (2002-2005) or Peter Blake's (2005-2006) as well as the files of Deputy Secretary Sarah Finley .

Some of the notable correspondence in this series relates to the following topics: No Child Left Behind, Tuition Assistance Grant (TAG) program, education funding, Standards of Learning (SOL), budget cuts in state aid to public libraries, college tuition increases, teacher salaries, consolidating the Virginia School for the Deaf and Blind, school vouchers, PASS initiative, in-state tuition for illegal immigrants, Virginia Tech admission policies, University of Virginia parking garage, Virginia Tech's admission to the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC), Mary Washing College name change, and proposal for a new university in the Martinsville-Henry County region.

Also included are Deputy Secretary of Education Sarah Finley's files.

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V. Planning and Budget Files , 2001-2005 .
Boxes 81-88
Extent: 2.90 cubic feet (8 boxes).

The Planning and Budget Files series is housed in 8 archival boxes and is subdivided by: 2003 General Assembly Session (2002-2004 Budget); 2004 General Assembly Session (2004-2005 Budget); 2006-08 Budget Development (Fall 2005; and Miscellaneous, 2001-2005. This series contains documents related to the development of the 2002-2004, 2004-2006 and 2006-2008 state budgets for state education agencies as well as related legislation. This subseries contains correspondence, e-mail, briefings, legislation, notes, presentations, press releases and reports.

Notable documents include Agency Contingency Budget Reduction Plans (7, 11, 15%) for Secretary of Education agencies, October 2002 (Box 81, Folder 1). The FY 2004-2006 Budget Binder, 2003-2004, includes Sample Speech for Cabinet Members and Other Administration Officials re: The Governor's Tax Fairness Plan; and Message Point for Governor Mark Warner, 16 December 2003 re: The Governor's 2004-2005 Budget (B87, F3).

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VI. Special Projects and Governor's Initiatives , 2001-2006 .
Boxes 89-136
Extent: 17.20 cubic feet (49 boxes).

Series is arranged into six subseries and is housed in 49 archival boxes. Subseries have been designated for: A. Higher Education; B. Education for a Lifetime; C. Partnership for Achieving Successful Schools (PASS); D. Commission to Review, Study and Reform Educational Leadership; E. Teachers; F. High School Reform; and G. Healthy Virginians. This series documents the Warner Administration's extensive educational initiatives. The series consists of agendas, agreements, articles, background materials, briefing books, correspondence, e-mail, grants, handouts, legislation, lists, memorandum, notes, presentations, reports, resumes, studies, and surveys.

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