Schools

Kelly Toppin: School Board Candidate

As part of our election coverage, Stow Patch will provide profiles of each of the city's eight school board candidates.

Name: Kelly Toppin

Age: 42

Lives in Stow: 12 Years

Married/children: Kelly and his wife Lisa have two daughters: Emily and Sarah (both in the Stow-Munroe Falls School District).

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Occupation: Collections supervisor at Weltman Weinberg & Reis Co. LPA in Brooklyn Heights.

Education: Jefferson Area High School graduate in Ashtabula County, B.A. political science and comprehensive studies from Heidelberg University, licensed to teach in Ohio, Masters of business administration with a focus in e-business from Phoenix University. 

Political Affiliation: Non-partisan, according to the Summit County Board of Elections.

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(Board members serve the district on a non-partisan basis)

Position Sought:

Other Elected Positions: None.

What is the biggest problem facing the district? 

  • "I think the biggest problem is the trust factor ... the current administration has lost trust of community. There's so much disgruntled-ness regarding the IB program. There hasn’t been open communication and foward-ness of the administration."

Are you in favor of the ?

  • "I am in favor of the levy, it needs to be passed. I'm not in favor of how it was put through though."

What are your goals if elected?

  • "I would like to improve communication between the community and the administration. I'd like to be more proactive in presenting information from board meetings, like putting up minutes on the website. I would like to see an internal audit of the books done, just because I'm uncomfortable on how funds are being spent and look to evaluate current programs being introduced as far as their cost-effectiveness at this particular time."

What qualifies you to be on the board?

  • "I'm qualified because of my educational background and experience in dealing with contracts with the law firm with our clients, being a member of the community and being involved within the local community. I feel have a well-rounded background that would be a good fit."

Where do you stand on the Program?

  • "I am not in favor of IB, there are some good proponents of the program, but I just don’t think now is the time to be spending the excess amount of money in the current deficit to implement the program in two schools with leaving the other four without it. If funds should be for district, the whole district should benefit just not individual schools — so I'm not 100 percent. Some aspects I do like but I cant' say that I agree with the whole program 100 percent."


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