The Families of Ward 4 Have Someone in Their Corner With Kari on Council
Stow Arts Commission Chairperson
- Kari was appointed to the Stow Arts Commission in 2019 by Mayor John Pribonic and confirmed by Stow City Council.
- In 2021 she was selected by her peers to serve as Chairperson for the commission.
- As chair of the Stow Arts Commission Kari has led the city into its first foray into public art. In early 2021, the commission presented its first-ever Women in Arts Exhibition featuring local women artists and hosted by local businesses in celebration of Women’s History Month.
- Last summer, the Commission introduced its Traffic Signal Box project where local artists have their work screen printed and installed on signal boxes near City Center and along Graham Rd.
- Public art contributes to our community’s unique identity, cultivates a sense of pride, and adds tremendous value to our city. Kari’s goal for the Stow Arts Commission is to infuse the city with art that showcases the talent of our local artists, invigorates the city, and inspires our community. She is actively seeking opportunities for grants to help achieve these goals.
N.I.C.E Co-Founder & Vice President
- In 2019, along with a group of local women, Kari launched a campaign to pay off the lunch debt for the entire district. In just 5 days, they had raised enough funds to pay off the balance of over $10,000.
- In 2020, the group launched the nonprofit Stow-Munroe Falls N.I.C.E with the mission to use their collective talents to find inspired solutions that provide tangible support to the families of Stow and Munroe Falls.
- Kari has led the group into partnerships and collaborative efforts with the Cities of Stow and Munroe Falls, the Stow-Munroe Falls City School District, the Rotary Club of Stow-Munroe Falls, the Stow Community Farmer’s Market, Bulldog Bags, Lions Club of Stow-Munroe Falls, Kiwanis Club, the National Honor Society, and the Stow Schools Foundation. Kari believes that networking, nurturing relationships and creating partnerships and collaborative efforts serve our community to its best possible potential.
SMF Council PTA Executive Officer
- Kari served for several years as an Executive Officer at the building unit level at Indian Trail Elementary where her daughter attended K-4 Elementary. She now serves as Corresponding Secretary for the Council PTA. The purpose of the Council is to unify and provide a channel of communication between the unit PTAs and the Ohio and National PTAs. They also provide an opportunity for networking, collaborative problem solving, and promoting the interests of each unit.
City Center Playground Committee
- Kari was selected by Mayor John Pribonic to serve on the City Center Playground Committee. The committee consisted of members of the Arts Commission, Committee on Inclusion, and Parks Board. Presented with the results of a community survey, the Committee spent a year planning and meeting with Playground Sales Representatives.
- The community was then invited to participate in the decision-making process at the 2020 Pizza Palooza Playground Committee Hands-on Presentation. The committee’s work culminated in a recommendation of a pod-based Play Trail for children aged 2-12. Funding is underway for this project.
- It is Kari’s hope to expand this project in the future to include features such as the overwhelmingly popular community requested Splash Pad. Kari firmly believes Stow’s best feature is its residents. Investing in a space that is community-driven and suitable for children through senior citizens is high on her priority list.
Homeowner in Ward 4 for 15 Years
- Kari moved to Stow in 2006. She lives in Heather Hills neighborhood with her husband and 4 children. As a wife, mother, and homeowner, she has the same focus as her neighbors such as stormwater management, serviceable roads and infrastructure, and quality parks for her children.
- Kari has an opportunity to bring a unique focus to the residents of Ward 4. Her daughter attended Indian Trail Elementary and has a network of peers in Wyoga Lake. Kari has a first-hand understanding of the unique nature of the Wyoga Lake development, the challenges that the families there face, and has a vested interest in being a voice for the community.
SMF City Schools Facilities Master Planning Committee
- In the Summer of 2019, the Stow-Munroe Falls City School District completed a full assessment of all the buildings in the district. The assessment revealed that many of our buildings are at or near the end of their lifespan as well as are outdated.
- The Facilities Master Planning Committee was created as a result of the assessment and consists of staff and community members. Together, they work in conjunction with consultants, construction experts, architects, and school officials to analyze the data and come up with a plan for the future of the district.
- Kari was selected by the Stow-Munroe Falls City School District Administration to serve on the Facilities Planning Master Committee. The Committee will present their completed plan to the Stow-Munroe Falls City School Board of Education to determine further action.
