After a closed session discussion during Monday night’s meeting at City Hall, Salem City Council emerged and unanimously approved the appointments of Andy Raines and Stacey Danstrom to the Salem City School Board. Their three-year terms will take effect on January 1, 2023.
Raines was first appointed to the board in 2014 when he replaced retiring Board Chair Sally Southard. He is a James Madison University graduate who is the Business Development Director for Fairway Financial Partners. His wife, Amy, is a teacher at East Salem Elementary and their two adult children both graduated from Salem High School. This will be his fourth term on the board.
Danstrom was one of four candidates seeking a seat on the board and this is her first appointment in this line of public service. The Texas native has lived in the Roanoke Valley since 1993 and in Salem since 2000. She and her husband, Russ, have three adult children who attended East Salem Elementary and Andrew Lewis Middle before graduating from Salem High School. From 1989-2000 she applied her Industrial Distribution degree from Texas A&M to work in a variety of roles with Southern Pacific and Norfolk Southern in engineering technology marketing and sales.
"I have long been passionate about supporting strong public school systems, literacy and mental health," says Danstrom. "Supporting our educators and making schools a safe environment for learning and achieving are priorities of mine, and I am humbled by the appointment."
Danstrom will replace Artice Ledbetter, who is stepping down after 12 years of distinguished service as both a member and former Vice Chair of the board.
