Stow-Munroe Falls school board seat remains empty; decision heads to probate court
The vacant seat on the Stow-Munroe Falls Board of Education remains empty after a vote to fill the seat ended in a tie Monday.
Board members Lisa Johnson-Bowers and Jon Leissler voted for Mike Daniels, while Pamela Wind and board President Nancy Brown voted for Kari Suhadolnik.
The deadlock sends the matter to Summit County Probate Court Judge Elinore Marsh Stormer to decide. There is not a set deadline for Stormer's decision, but she is not limited to considering only the finalists or the original 16 board applicants. The board's replacement process guidelines allow her to choose any registered voter from Stow or Munroe Falls.
The opening was created by the August resignation of President Jessica Wright
The board narrowed the field down from 10 applicants who had advanced to second round of interviews conducted Sept. 8.
Johnson-Bowers described the applicants interviewed by the board as "amazing" and said she was looking for an applicant with stability and experience.
"One of the number one priorities for the school district right now is security," she said. "The reason I chose Mike Daniels is because he is a security expert."
She also said, if appointed, Daniels would be the first Black public official nominated and appointed in the city.
"This really cements our board's drive for diversity," she said.
Wind said she "truly believes Kari Suhaldonik is (the board's) best choice" because of her history of community service and involvement with the school district.
"One of my priorities certainly is a sense of stability," Wind said. "It's also someone who can hit the ground running, someone who knows what's happening, what has been happening, has attended meetings and has followed what has been going on with the schools for so long."
Suhaldonik said she was honored to have been nominated for the school board vacancy.
"I have a long history of serving my community and I’m hopeful that my track record with the district speaks for itself when it comes to the final decision," she said.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Stow school board seat remains empty, decision headed to probate court
