Thirteen Roanokers have applied for three open seats on the Roanoke School Board, including educators, attorneys, a doctor and an assistant city manager. This is the largest number of applicants the city has received since 2017.
The board is guaranteed to gain at least two new members on July 1. Laura Rottenborn, chief of the Western District of Virginiaâs civil division, did not reapply for a third term. Dick Willis, an industrial digitization leader for Trane Technologies, is ineligible for reappointment because he is serving his third and final term.
The third seat is held by attorney Mark Cathey, who has served on the board since 2015 and has reapplied for a third term. Cathey was previously the boardâs vice chair and chair.