The West Virginia Board of Education was founded in the constitution of West Virginia. The board has a general supervision of 834 primary and secondary schools in West Virginia. Its twelve members include nine citizens appointed by the governor and three ex officio non-voting members: the state superintendent of the schools, the chancellor of the West Virginia Education Policy Commission and the chancellor of community and technical education. The State Superintendent is a constitutional official who serves the will of the Board. The members of the Board of Directors have a term of office of nine years and no more than five citizens may belong to the same political party