Cabarrus school board appoints Shannon Lancaster to fill vacant seat
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Summary
The Cabarrus County Board of Education voted 4-2 to appoint Shannon Lancaster to the unexpired term of Laura Blackwell Lindsey. The board adopted a selection process beforehand and heard roughly 30 public speakers and five finalists before voting.
The Cabarrus County Board of Education appointed Shannon Lancaster to fill the two-year unexpired term of former board member Laura Blackwell Lindsey, voting 4-2 after two rounds of voting at its Jan. 13 business meeting.
Board Chairman Rob Walter said the board had to weigh experience, relationships with county officials who control funding, and the ability to “hit the ground running.” The board first approved a multi-step selection process that included a public comment period and presentations by five finalists.
The first round of votes produced a 3-3 split among the six sitting board members, sending the contest to a runoff between Lancaster and Dr. Robert Kirk. In the final roll call, trustees Melanie Freeman, Greg Mills, Rob Walter and Catherine Moore voted for Lancaster; Pam Escobar and Sam Treadaway voted for Kirk. Freeman moved to accept Lancaster and Moore seconded the motion; the board then confirmed the appointment by voice vote.
The selection followed extensive public comment. Dozens of residents and community leaders urged the board to appoint either Lancaster — whom many speakers described as a longtime local educator and business owner — or Michelle Williams, a recent general-election candidate and active PTO leader. Laura Blackwell Lindsey, who now serves on the county commission and previously held the seat, addressed the board and urged appointment of Lancaster, saying, “This is the people’s seat.”
Board attorney briefing and the board-adopted policy cited for the appointment (Board Policy 2115, unexpired-term fulfillment) were read into the record prior to voting. Board counsel explained that the appointee will serve through November 2026 and that the remaining members of the board are required under policy to appoint the replacement until the next election.
Lancaster is expected to take the oath and join the board at the board’s Feb. 3 work session. Trustees said she will serve through the remainder of Lindsey’s elected term.
Lancaster thanked the board and community and said she would prioritize students and staff in her service.
Votes at a glance: motion to appoint Shannon Lancaster — mover: Melanie Freeman; seconder: Catherine Moore; outcome: approved 4-2 (yes: Freeman, Mills, Walter, Moore; no: Escobar, Treadway).
