West Virginia House Bill HJR4

West Virginia 2025 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/13/25
• Refer: 2/13/25

Caption

To amend the West Virginia Constitution to provide for the election of the West Virginia Superintendent of Free Schools in the General Election.

Summary

House Joint Resolution 4 proposes a constitutional amendment to change how West Virginia’s state superintendent of free schools is chosen. Under current constitutional language, the state board of education selects the superintendent, who serves at the board’s pleasure. HJR4 would instead require the superintendent to be elected statewide in the general election every four years, while still making the superintendent the chief school officer of the state and preserving the office’s role on the board of public works. The resolution also directs that the proposed amendment be submitted to voters at the 2026 general election and assigns it a ballot designation and short title, the “State Superintendent General Election Amendment.” If approved by voters, the amendment would alter Article XII of the West Virginia Constitution and shift the selection of the state superintendent from an appointed position to an elected one.

Impact

If ratified, the measure would change the state constitution and the structure of West Virginia’s education governance by replacing board appointment of the superintendent with direct election by the voters. This would affect the powers and selection process for the superintendent of free schools, while leaving the board of education in place and preserving the superintendent’s constitutional membership on the board of public works. The bill does not itself change ordinary statutes, but it would require any implementing laws and related provisions to conform to the new constitutional method of selection.

Sentiment

Based on the bill text and available context, the measure appears to be framed as a reform to increase direct voter control over the state superintendent’s office. There is no recorded committee transcript or vote history in the provided materials, so there is no documented public debate or formal legislative sentiment to summarize beyond the proposal itself. The introduction and referral indicate the bill was still in the early stages of consideration.

Contention

The central point of contention is the method of selecting the state superintendent: whether the office should remain appointed by the board of education or be elected by statewide voters. Supporters of election would likely emphasize accountability and democratic legitimacy, while opponents may prefer appointment to preserve insulation from politics and maintain board oversight. Because no committee discussion or votes are provided, specific arguments from legislators or stakeholders are not available in the record supplied.