During the 2025 session of the West Virginia legislature, delegates Katie Crouse (R – Putnam) and David Pritt (R – Fayette) co-sponsored House Bill 2841, which would have amended §18-4-4 of the state code to establish maximum salaries for school superintendents.

The bill, which died in committee during the legislative session, would have based compensation on enrollment alone rather than a flat or across-the-board rate. Monongalia County superintendent Dr. Eddie R. Campbell Jr., according to the Department of Education data, is the sate’s highest-paid district head, receiving a $209,250 salary – or $18.90 for each of the county’s 11,070 students. Wirt County’s John McKown receives a salary of $108,402 – which breaks down to $130.45 for each of the district’s 831 students.

The bill, which died in committee during the 2025 legislative session, would have based compensation on enrollment alone rather than a flat or across-the-board rate.

The growing trend of charter schools has raised the stakes for districts vying for the top talent among educational leaders.

However, there is a wide discrepancy with compensation for each county’s top administrator.