By Tom Hardesty
The Summiteer

In a 3-1 vote, the Stow-Munroe Falls Board of Education selected Tina Merlitti as its newest member at its Jan. 13 organizational meeting. Merlitti, a resident of Munroe Falls, fills the vacancy left by former board President Nancy Binzel, who resigned effective Dec. 31, 2024, with three years left on her four-year term.

Merlitti, a former member of Akron City Council, was chosen from 12 candidates who were interviewed by the board, which received a total of 14 applications for the open seat. Board Member Mike Sheehan cast the lone dissenting vote against Merlitti.

“I am honored to have been chosen to serve the residents of Stow-Munroe Falls in this capacity,” Merlitti, who currently works as an executive assistant with the Summit County Engineer’s Office, said. “I look forward to working with all the board members and administration to focus our energies on the important issues impacting the students, staff, parents and the community.”

Because she was appointed and not elected, Merlitti will serve until Jan. 1, 2026. Voters will elect a person to run out Binzel’s term this November, with the winning candidate serving until Jan. 1, 2028. Merlitti has indicated that she plans to run for a full term.

Merlitti’s roots in the Stow-Munroe Falls community and school system run deep. She grew up in Stow and lived there for 20 years, and she has two children who attend SMF schools. She has held a long association with Stow-Munroe Falls City Schools through her involvement in the Parent Teacher Associations at Riverview Elementary School, Lakeview Intermediate School and Kimpton Middle School.

“We are excited to welcome Tina Merlitti to our Board of Education,” Dr. Pamela Wind, who was elected as the new board president at the Jan. 13 meeting, said. “She brings a wealth of experience, leadership and dedication to the community, which will be invaluable as we continue to focus on our mission of providing the best educational opportunities for our students.”

Merlitti graduated from The Ohio State University with a bachelor’s degree in political science and served for six years on Akron City Council, representing Ward 7 from 2005 to 2011.

Merlitti also worked with Summit County Emergency Management for 10 years, where her duties included reviewing school safety plans, and also served on the Akron Public Schools building committee.

“I am thrilled to welcome Tina Merlitti to the Board of Education,” SMF Superintendent Dr. Felisha Gould said. “Her experience and passion for our schools and community align perfectly with our mission to build futures together. I look forward to collaborating with her and the entire Board to ensure the success of every student in our district.”

The revamped Stow-Munroe Falls Board of Education as 2025 gets underway looks like this: President Dr. Pamela Wind, Vice President Kari Suhaldonik, and Members Mike Sheehan, Antoinette East-Jenkins and Merlitti.