This article is part of the 2025 General Election Voters' Guide produced in partnership with the League of Women Voters of the Akron Area.
(Unexpired term ending 12-31-2027)
Tina Merlitti
Nonpartisan
Previous public office: Akron City Council, Ward 7
Campaign email address: tinamerlitti@gmail.com
Education: BA in Political Science, The Ohio State University
Facebook: TinaMerlitti@facebook.com
Campaign phone: 330-322-1295
Training/experience: FEMA Director’s Training, Incident Management, PIO Training, National Response Training
Website: tinamerlitti.com
Why are you the best candidate for the office?
I grew up in Stow and now live in Munroe Falls and I have two children currently attending school in the district. I see being on the school board as a great opportunity to use my experience in school safety, government finance and school facilities to help grow our district into the school district of choice for the area. We have several amazing programs that give our students the opportunity to be ahead of the game when they leave to pursue college and a future career. I would like to see us continue to expand these programs and ensure that we provide a safe learning environment for our children.
What are the most significant issues facing the school district and what ideas do you have to address these issues?
State and Federal school funding is unpredictable. We need to look for additional creative funding solutions for our schools. We will need to look at corporate support, foundational support and other methods to raise funds to supplement our current funding. My priorities will be to look for creative solutions for cost savings and funding for our district.
I use my 28 years of experience working with government policies and procedures to establish a framework through policies and procedures that would provide safe and equitable working conditions for staff and students.
I will also, work to improve communication between the public and the school district through proper records management and increased public relations meeting with local business and community members to see how we can work together.
What ideas do you have for ensuring safety in your school district?
I spent 10 years working on school safety plans for all of the school buildings in Summit County. I was responsible for making sure their plans were compliant with state law.
Stow-Munroe Falls is currently updating our digital security measures to protect our data and protect the district from malicious cyber attacks.
Our school district does a very good job at physicals security. However there is always room for improvement. This is why it is important to exercise our plans.
We need to continue to improve our facilities to insure that our buildings are warm, safe and dry. I served on the facilities committee for 23 new Akron Community Learning center and have the experience working with builders and contractors.
We teach our students conflict resolution and how to communicate with people who have different ideas. We emphasize critical thinking. This allows them to resolve issues peacefully.
What action, if any, do you believe the Board of Education should take to support all students and ensure they are provided with a high-quality, meaningful education?
My priorities are to establish a framework through policies and procedures that would provide safe and equitable learning environment for our students.
We need an environment were everyone’s voices can be heard and that people can feel safe to participate in school success and growth. We need to reinforce positive views and feelings regarding the school system by fostering a culture of respect for all. I want people to have open communications and collaborate with students, staff and the community.
We need to prepare our children for a more technology driven future. We must continue to intergrade digital tools into the classroom so our students gain critical thinking and problem-solving skills for future careers. We need to expand our use of adaptive software that allows teachers to customize lessons that fit the individual student.
JoAnne Loparo
Nonpartisan
Campaign email address: jltemps@yahoo.com
Campaign phone: 216-210-9873
Education: Nordonia High School
Training/experience: CPP
Previous public office: None
Why are you the best candidate for the office?
I grew up in Macedonia and attended Nordonia High School, and I’ve called Stow home since 2016. My amazing daughter is a student at Stow-Munroe Falls High School, so I’m personally invested in how our district performs.
I work with payroll and large budgets, so I understand how to manage money responsibly and keep spending transparent. I’m not a politician — I’m just a parent, a taxpayer, and a community member who decided to run because I’m tired of the political games. I believe it’s time for a fresh perspective and some common sense on the board.
Serving would be an honor, and I’d make sure every decision keeps students and families first. My goal is to see our district earn that five-star rating again by focusing on strong academics, financial accountability, and programs that truly prepare our kids for life after graduation.
What are the most significant issues facing the school district and what ideas do you have to address these issues?
Our biggest challenge right now is financial accountability. We need to ensuring that administrators are held responsible for how our money is managed. The school board needs to take an immediate and honest look at spending to ensure every dollar directly benefits students and teachers. Too often, funds are spent without clear oversight or transparency. I will advocate for routine financial reviews, stronger internal controls, and full transparency so families can trust that their tax dollars are being used wisely. We should also look for creative ways to stretch our budget through community partnerships, local business collaboration, and grants that support academic programs.
Fiscal responsibility doesn’t mean taking things away — it means spending smarter and putting our priorities back where they belong: on students and teachers.
What ideas do you have for ensuring safety in your school district?
Our police departments and school staff already do a great job keeping our kids safe, and I want to continue supporting that teamwork.
That means keeping strong relationships with local law enforcement, regularly reviewing our safety plans, and making sure every school building has the right security measures in place. Communication is key, especially during emergencies, and that’s something we can always look to improve.
Safety also means making sure students feel comfortable speaking up if something doesn’t seem right — whether that’s about physical safety or emotional well-being. When kids feel safe and supported, they can focus on learning.
What action, if any, do you believe the Board of Education should take to support all students and ensure they are provided with a high-quality, meaningful education?
I really believe we need to get back to the basics — making sure our younger students have a solid foundation in reading, math, and problem-solving. At the same time, we’ve got to recognize that not every student’s path looks the same. Some will go on to college, some will go into the trades, and others will find their own unique direction. Our schools should support all of those options.
Every student learns differently, and we need to keep growing programs that meet kids where they are. Teachers also need the right tools and the freedom to teach in ways that actually work for their classrooms. My goal is to make sure we’re setting high expectations but also giving our staff what they need to help every student succeed.
In the end, the board’s job is simple: to listen, to support, and to make sure every child in Stow-Munroe Falls has the opportunity to graduate confident, capable, and ready for whatever comes next.
