WINFIELD, W.Va. -- The Putnam County Board of Education approved a new four-year contract for Superintendent Chuck Hatfield with a 13 percent salary increase, placing him among the highest paid in the state.
The new contract, which takes effect in July, calls for a $20,500 raise, elevating his salary to $155,000 for 2012-2013.
Hatfield will then receive $5,000 raises in each of the remaining three years of the contract, meaning he will earn $170,000 in 2015-2016.
"We're getting a tremendous bang for our buck," said board president Craig Spicer.
Noting that Putnam County's teachers earn the highest salaries in the state, Spicer said, "We felt [Hatfield's] contract should reflect that."
Currently, Hatfield ranks about seventh in superintendent compensation, Spicer said.
Spicer also cited an "unprecedented" string of student success on test scores within the past three years.
Under Hatfield's leadership, Spicer said, "Wonderful things have happened" to Putnam County schools.
Hatfield, who has spent all of his working life in education in Putnam County, started out as an elementary teacher at what used to be Hurricane Elementary when he graduated from Glenville State College in 1973. He later worked as principal at Eastbrook Elementary for nine years, and then went to work in the central office as director of early childhood education.
WINFIELD, W.Va. -- The Putnam County Board of Education approved a new four-year contract for Superintendent Chuck Hatfield with a 13 percent salary increase, placing him among the highest paid in the state.
The new contract, which takes effect in July, calls for a $20,500 raise, elevating his salary to $155,000 for 2012-2013.
Hatfield will then receive $5,000 raises in each of the remaining three years of the contract, meaning he will earn $170,000 in 2015-2016.
"We're getting a tremendous bang for our buck," said board president Craig Spicer.
Noting that Putnam County's teachers earn the highest salaries in the state, Spicer said, "We felt [Hatfield's] contract should reflect that."
Currently, Hatfield ranks about seventh in superintendent compensation, Spicer said.
Spicer also cited an "unprecedented" string of student success on test scores within the past three years.
Under Hatfield's leadership, Spicer said, "Wonderful things have happened" to Putnam County schools.
Hatfield, who has spent all of his working life in education in Putnam County, started out as an elementary teacher at what used to be Hurricane Elementary when he graduated from Glenville State College in 1973. He later worked as principal at Eastbrook Elementary for nine years, and then went to work in the central office as director of early childhood education.
For 13 years he was assistant superintendent of personnel and pupil services before being appointed deputy superintendent for the 2003-2004 year. Hatfield also has a master's degree in education administration from Marshall University.
In 2004, he became county superintendent after replacing current board member Sam Sentelle, who held the position for 15 years.
In 2009, Hatfield was chosen as West Virginia State Superintendent of the Year by the West Virginia Association of School Administrators.
In August 2009, Putnam residents passed a $57 million school bond, the first school bond approved in the county in 33 years.
When the levy was passed, the county became eligible to receive state School Building Authority funding, which allowed the school board to pursue an aggressive building program.
Hatfield said he is proud that portable classrooms will soon be a thing of the past. Ten years ago, the county was forced to use 86 portable classrooms, he said.
"Nearly every school in the county has been touched," Hatfield said.
Reach Kate White at kate.wh...@wvgazette.com or 304-348-1723.
