Records of the Virginia Office of the Secretary of Education 1994; 1998-2006

Access and use

Location of collection:
Library of Virginia
The Library of Virginia
800 East Broad Street
Richmond, VA 23219
Contact for questions and access:
POC: Archives Reference Services
Phone: (804) 692-3888

Summary

Language:
English

Background

Scope and content:

The Secretary of Education, Records, are housed in one hundred seventy-nine (179 boxes). The collection is arranged into seven (7) 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; VI. Special Projects and Governor's Initiatives, 2001-2006; and VII. Additional Records. 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.

Biographical / historical:

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.

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.

Additional Secretary of Education records from the Warner administration were transferred to the Library as part of the Kaine administration transfer in 2010. Accession 44681 was transferred and accessioned on 12 January 2010.

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
  • VII. Additional Records, 1994; 1998; 2000-2006
  • Subseries A. Office of the Secretary, 2001-2006
  • Subseries B. Special Project and Studies, 1994; 1998; 2000-2005
  • Subseries C. Legislative Files, 2002-2004
  • Subseries D. Weekly Reports, 2002-2005
Physical description:
61.72 cu. ft.