CHARLESTON -- Leaders of last Thursday's Summit on Global Competitiveness say they will craft legislative requests to give to lawmakers for the 2010 session.

That will likely produce a push for charter schools and changes in teacher hiring and employment. There also could be some policy and code reform requests taken to West Virginia Superintendent Steve Paine and the state Board of Education to address professional development, technology and curriculum.

One thing is for sure, said Ralph Baxter, co-chairman of the 21st Century Jobs Cabinet of West Virginia: There will be action.

"The Jobs Cabinet will propose further legislative action," he said. "We'll examine the open issues ... and make recommendations. We know what the issues are. It's time to take some concrete action. And I think you are going to see more legislative action."

The seriousness of the summit comes on the heals of the nation's economic recession. West Virginia has come through with less damage than some states, which have made dramatic cuts across the board. Sen. Evan Jenkins, D-Cabell, said sometimes it takes a serious event to get people thinking about real change.

"Often times it takes a crisis to make significant changes," Jenkins said. "Education clearly has a key role in preparing us for the future."

Some states have made cuts in education, while Gov. Joe Manchin said Thursday that's not an option. But he does want to see a more positive impact on how more than half of the state's budget is being spent.

Baxter added that education reform needs to happen because there is such a strong tie to the financial health of the state through the business and investment sector.

"We need change in education in West Virginia," said Baxter. "We need to do it to keep the jobs we have and bring new jobs to West Virginia."

Jenkins said that despite calls from Baxter and others to change old laws and create new ones, the process isn't that easy. He said there is a lot of resistance to change among West Virginia lawmakers, adding that he introduced a charter schools bill about 10 years ago. Since then, he said it continues to get little discussion.

"You have to remember that what we deal with is both politics and policy," Jenkins said. "Events like this are an important reminder of policy ideas and opportunities. Dealing with these issues will be helpful in breaking down barriers."

The Summit on Global Competiveness included a panel discussion on technology literacy, a viewing of the documentary "Two Million Minutes," a presentation on the new School Innovation Zones legislation, a panel discussion on creating 21st Century teachers and how to help those teachers prepare students for 21st Century work.

Cabell County Assistant Superintendent Gerry Sawrey, who is over the high school restructuring initiative, said the summit did bring a lot of issues to the forefront and produced conversations that could help give steam to many changes.

"So much of what we do is tied up in codes and statutes and West Virginia (Board of Education) policies," she said.

She said she was encouraged by what she heard from the governor and first lady, teacher organization leaders and the students and teachers in attendance. Still, the two issues she thinks muddles educational progress are the calendar and graduation requirements.

"The way our calendar is dictated to us in code, it is really restrictive," Sawrey said. "And the graduation requirements need to be examined carefully."

Both, she added, get in the way of addressing the needs of students. And the latter, she said, really restricts a student's ability to take a technical program.

"What can we do to provide a rigorous curriculum that doesn't box (students) in?" Sawrey asked.

Sen. Bob Plymale, D-Wayne, said during the closing session Thursday that the summit was one of the best he had been to in his 17 years as a state politician.

"We do need to look at teacher-led schools and charter schools," Plymale said. "Policies do have to change."

Several possible solutions, brought about through a grassroots community forum initiative, were presented at the summit. Some, like creating incentives to attract and retain highly qualified teachers by increasing pay in areas of shortages, likely would take legislative action. Others, like improving parent expectations, take more of a local school effort.

Other examples included giving education a 'real' value by increasing project-based learning and placing more emphasis on career choices and what it takes to achieve that job; more one-on-one connection with students by creating student peer mentors and coaches or providing online learning opportunities; placing more emphasis on advanced placement courses by training more teachers to teach AP courses and increase offerings of classes; using the School Innovation Zones legislation to explore different ways to run schools; and creating alternative routes to teacher certification.

Many of the high school students who attended the summit said they also supported better evaluation practices for teachers. Some said the West Virginia system is set up in such a way that few teachers are ever disciplined or fired for their failure to teach effectively. Huntington High junior Patrick Gue also said that students earning a D and moving on isn't doing anyone a favor.

And senior Savannah Coffman said even with more stringent graduation requirements, students are able to skate by and still get a diploma.

"Students don't have to care to get by," said Coffman, who added that those who drop out are either too lazy to stay or are too far behind to feel they can catch up.

After watching the documentary, Coffman also addressed the parental support issue. In "Two Million Minutes," all of the students from the United States, India and China have strong parental support. Most are shown eating dinner together, getting asked questions about their studies and receiving encouraging words and guidance.

Coffman said she took a parenting course at Huntington High and took away a great deal of information.

"A student needs parental support," she said. "Parenting is the most important job there can be."

Bayan Misaghi, a George Washington High School senior and student representative of the 21st Century Jobs Cabinet, served as one of two facilitators for the student discussions. He said the conversations were productive and really focused on serious ailments and remedies of the state's education system.

"We're discussing how West Virginia fits into the global context," Misighi said. "If we continue at the rate we're going now, we're going to fail. We can compete through education reform, more options and a less rigid system."

Photo courtesy of Kheng Yap-McGuire

Huntington High students pose for a photo with Gov. Joe Manchin at the Summit on Global Competitiveness at the University of Charleston on Thursday, Oct. 29, 2009 in Charleston. Sixteen Highlanders attended the summit, which brought together members of the West Virginia community to discuss best practices and state-specific strategies for transitioning to 21st Century demands.