A new school is being built in Roanoke.Preview: Virginia Western Community College is about to start a search for a new president. Robert Sandel announced yesterday that he plans to retire at the end of the academic year. Sandel has been president of the Roanoke college since 2001, and was president of Mountain Empire Community College for nine years before that. Sandel and his wife plan to stay in the Roanoke area after he retires.