Summit County judge appoints new school board member after tie vote

After a deadlocked vote at the Stow-Munroe Falls Board of Education, Summit County Probate Judge Elinore Marsh Stormer has intervened and appointed Kari Suhadolnik to the board’s open seat.

Stormer made the appointment Oct. 4.

“I was planning to run for school board in the next cycle anyway, so it was an easy decision to throw my hat into the ring,” Suhadolnik said. “I am excited for the opportunity to lead, and hopefully my track record will help me keep my seat.”

The opening on the five-member board arose when previous board president Jessica Wright resigned in August after accepting a new job that barred her from holding public office. Then-Vice President Nancy Brown replaced Wright as president, creating the open seat on the board.

But after interviewing 16 Stow and Munroe Falls residents who applied to fill the vacancy, the board was split 2-2 in a vote Sept. 12 between the final two nominees, Michael Daniels and Suhadolnik.

Following state rules, the decision was passed to Stormer to decide, and she invited the five second-round interviewees to give responses to four questions.

Three candidates responded, and Suhadolnik was chosen to join the board. She will be sworn in Oct. 10.

“I was thrilled to receive the votes of two board members, and I am grateful to the judge for the opportunity,” she said. “I am looking forward to working with the whole board, and we will work well together.”

Stormer asked the candidates to share their thoughts on the role of a school board member, what they perceive to be the biggest challenge to the Stow-Munroe Falls school system today, how they would meet this challenge, and what their favorite book is. Suhadolnik answered that her elementary school favorite – “The Phantom Tollbooth” by Norton Juster – remains so today.

“While each of the three thoughtfully answered all of the questions, the Court finds that only Kari Suhadolnik's answer appreciated the limited role of a school board member,” Stormer said. “The Court hopes that she (Kari) and the other board members will consider the issues raised by the other two applicants in their answers and that all of the other applicants will continue to work for the students and all the schools.”

“I can say without hesitation that all of our candidates were qualified and would have been excellent on the board,” Brown said, “but I am delighted that Judge Stormer appointed Kari. She will be effective from day one. We were very lucky, and it speaks very well of our community that every single candidate would have done a good job.”

Priority No. 1 for Suhadolnik: Issue 6, the 6.93 mills school levy that will be on the Nov. 8 ballot.

“Right away, it is important to get this school levy passed as we need the operational funds to keep the schools functioning at a high level, then focus on our facilities master plan,” she said. “I have been on the committee for that since its inception, and I know where we stand with our buildings. It is time for our district to make decisions that will affect the next generation of Bulldogs.

“I have four children. One graduated two years ago from the high school, and I have a junior and a senior as well as a sixth-grader. Four children through the district means I want them to have a great district and have the best opportunities they can. I have always been committed to community service, and I just think that all children should be afforded the opportunity of a safe and secure public education.”

Suhadolnik has served on both the Indian Trails Elementary School PTA and the district-wide PTA, and is also chair of the Stow Arts Commission. She is also vice president and co-founder of nonprofit SMF NICE, which works in tandem with the schools and cities to help students, teachers and families in need.

“I am incredibly proud that we have given back more than $40,000 to Stow and Munroe Falls residents since our inception in 2018 by way of school supplies, clothing, groceries, feminine hygiene products, teacher grants and even mortgage, rent and utility assistance,” Suhadolnik said.

Superintendent Tom Bratten said Suhadolnik’s extensive experience working with SMF schools will benefit the board.

“I am excited for Kari to join our board of education and hit the ground running, as she has been keeping up to date with the happenings in the district and has been very involved in school projects for quite some time now,” he said. “It will be great to have a full board again, and I feel that we are in an excellent position to continue the highest caliber work that we have accomplished thus far as well as to tackle the challenges that lie ahead.”