A Manatee County School Board member is in hospice care, battling bone marrow cancer.
Dr. Mary Cantrell, 71, is new to the board. She was elected in November, beating incumbent board member, Julie Aranibar.
Despite her illness, the longtime educator and former Manatee Technical College director, has not resigned from the board and plans on attending future meetings.
When asked about Cantrell, Mike Barber, the spokesman for the district, confirmed her illness and said, “Our prayers are with her and her family.”