
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: TUESDAY, May 10, 1994                   TAG: 9405100158
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: A-1   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: By JOEL TURNER STAFF WRITER NOTE: Above
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

SCHOOL BOARD FILLED

Roanoke City Council has appointed a businessman, John Saunders, and a parent-teacher association leader, Marsha Ellison, to the city School Board. Council also reappointed Marilyn Curtis to a third term.

Incumbent Wendy O'Neil, executive director of the YWCA of the Roanoke Valley, lost her bid for a second term.

Saunders had the support of six council members, while Ellison had the support of five at Monday night's meeting.

Curtis, a partner in a funeral home, won the backing of all seven council members for another term.

Mayor David Bowers and Councilman John Edwards were the only council members who voted to reappoint O'Neil.

The fifth applicant, James Beatty, city personnel administrator, did not receive any votes.

The gender and racial composition of the board will not change despite the appointment of two new members. The seven-member board has two women and two blacks.

The School Board does not have designated seats for which candidates can apply. But it was clear that council was looking to Ellison to replace O'Neil and Saunders to replace James M. Turner, a business executive who was ineligible for a fourth term.

Supporters of Saunders, a partner in a consulting and venture capital company, told council last month that he was a logical successsor to Turner.

Saunders said Monday night he hopes his background will be useful on the board. He said he will be a strong advocate for city schools, which he thinks are excellent.

Ellison, president of the Central Council PTA, will replace O'Neil, who had sought another term. Ellison has been active in the PTA for a decade and said that one of her top priorities will be to make sure that the needs of all children are met.

Ellison said she also will focus her attention on technology and computer programs for students.

O'Neil said Monday night that she will continue her efforts to improve the educational opportunities and quality of life for the city's children even though she will leave the board. She congratulated the winners.

The new members join the School Board July1.

by CNB