Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the School Board Appointments topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Public hearing held on Christopher T. Link for Roanoke City School Board vacancy; council moves to consider appointment
Summary
Roanoke City Council opened a public hearing on Feb. 3 for Christopher T. Link to fill a school board vacancy. Three speakers — Benjamin Jones, Emily Casey and David Howell — spoke in favor of Link's appointment, citing his neighborhood leadership and volunteer work. Council later moved a resolution to appoint Link and asked him to remain for the
Roanoke City Council opened a public hearing on Feb. 3 to receive citizen views about appointing Christopher T. Link to fill a Roanoke City School Board vacancy. Several community members spoke in support of Link's appointment, and council later moved to consider a resolution to appoint him.
Benjamin Jones said he had known Link for about 10 years and described him as "brilliant" and community-minded, and noted Link's involvement as a church leader and parent of a Roanoke public schools student. Emily Casey, president of the Raleigh Court Neighborhood Association, said Link "has stepped up" through years of neighborhood leadership and as a troop leader in his daughter's scout troop. David Howell, who previously sought a school board seat, said Link's "innate curiosity" and questions in community forums make him a strong candidate for the board.
After the public hearing, the mayor closed comments and asked if any council members had questions. Council asked Link to remain for the remainder of the meeting. Later in the agenda the council included a walk-on item: the clerk began to read a resolution appointing Christopher T. Link to fill the vacancy. The transcript excerpt ends while the resolution's text is being read; a final recorded vote on the resolution does not appear in the reviewed portion of the transcript. City staff previously announced that the city clerk's office is accepting applications for two upcoming Roanoke City School Board vacancies for three-year terms beginning July 1 and expiring June 30, 2028; the application deadline listed in meeting materials was March 10, 2025.
The public hearing and subsequent motion to read an appointment resolution reflect council's expedited process to fill the school board seat. Supporters who spoke emphasized Link's neighborhood service and family connection to the schools; council did not record additional debate in the reviewed transcript excerpt.
