Prior to last Thursday’s City Council’s budget work session, Roanoke City School Board member Jason Bingham announced to council that he was resigning from the school board. Bingham, a six-year member of the school board, said he would serve until a replacement is selected.
Bingham said that the school board and city council have “made one heck of a team.” He indicated that it was a very difficult decision for him – he did not want to resign but business obligations now require him to travel extensively.
Later Bingham explained in an interview that his duties with Ingersol Rand (who purchased Trane) as district manager of Virginia have changed. He was assigned a national role of strategy for North America and most recently he was promoted to Vice President of the central territory covering 14 states.
He travels every week, which leaves no time to attend school board meetings.
City Attorney Bill Hackworth advised council that a written letter of resignation will have to be received before applications can be accepted. Bingham indicated that his resignation would be effective July 1.
Hackworth said that it first needs to be advertised and a tentative public hearing date could be June 6 with a decision by council either on June 20 or July 5.
Council members gave Bingham credit for CCAP (Community College Access Program) which allows students graduating with a 2.0 average the opportunity to attend Virginia Western Community College free. The program is a public/private partnership that now includes Roanoke City, Salem and Franklin County. It enables qualifying high school students to continue their education in preparation for good, well-paying jobs within the region and/or the ability to transfer to a 4 year college.
School Board Chairman David Carson said “there are 86 kids at VWCC between last year and two years ago that are college graduates … That would not be the case without Jason Bingham.”
