Three newcomers competing for two open seats on the Strongsville Board of Education

Megan Haffner Age: 27 Education: Bachelor's degree in psychology, Arizona State University; master's degree in human resources and employment law, Arizona State University; graduate certificate in project management, Colorado State University; graduate certificate in business management, Columbia University Family: Single; one cat, Mac Job history: Risk management quality control specialist, Third Federal Savings and Loan, Cleveland Website and Facebook: https://haffner4strongsville.com and on Facebook, Megan Haffner for Strongsville Christa A. Grywalsky Heckman Age: 46 Education: Whitehall, Ohio public schools, K-12; valedictorian Whitehall-Yearling High School, 1996; bachelor of science in systems and control engineering, Case Western Reserve University, May 2001; juris doctorate, Case Western Reserve University School of Law, May 2006. Family: Husband of 20 years, Jason; daughter, Evelyn, 10; twins, Alice and Andrew, 6; dogs, Loki and Thor. Job history: Attorney, licensed to practice in Ohio since 2006. Left Zashin & Rich Co., L.P.A., Cleveland in 2020 to manage familial responsibilities during COVID; working toward opening a full-time legal practice in Strongsville. Website and Facebook: https://heckmanforstrongsville.com and on Facebook Christa Heckman for Strongsville BOE Eric Wahl Age: 49 Education: Bachelor of science in marketing, Miami University Family: Wife, Mindy; sons, Wyatt, 20; Archie, 18; Emmett, 16. All three children attend(ed) Strongsville Schools Job history: Global activation leader for Ernst & Young Facebook: Wahl for Strongsville Schools STRONGSVILLE -- Three newcomers are vying for two open seats in the Strongsville school board race with candidates citing the need for funding, infrastructure work and financial transparency as some of the biggest issues facing the district. Strongsville has seen voters turn down recent levies aimed at building new elementary schools in an overcrowded school system. School board member Sharon Kilbane resigned from the board in May, citing a conflict of interest. The board appointed Kevin Griffin to finish her term, but he is not seeking a new term. The other seat is being vacated by school board member Hayley Stovcik. What makes you the best candidate for the position? Haffner: I'm a proud graduate of Strongsville Schools and want every current and future Mustang to have the same great experience I did. I currently see a need for financial transparency within our district. I want to be the person to bring that transparency to our residents. With my current financial background, I am accustomed to breaking down large numbers into more digestible and understandable terms. With our current aging elementary school infrastructure, I find it important to have someone on the board who understands fund allocation, re-allocation, and how to properly respond to risk-averse situations. Heckman: Public schools are facing many challenges, and laws are changing quickly. As a lawyer, I am ready to respond, creating the policies that our district needs, while considering the best interests of students and community. I also have extensive experience in collaboration, cooperative conflict resolution and mediation. These skills will be imperative as Strongsville Schools navigates funding challenges, and assures solvency and capital improvement needs into 2026 and beyond. Finally, I have children in the district. I have a vested interest in the schools, and I talk to parents every single day directly hearing their concerns. Wahl: I bring both a parent's perspective and a business leader's mindset. My children attend Strongsville Schools, so I see firsthand the strengths we must protect and the challenges we must solve. Professionally, I have spent two decades managing budgets, building teams, and driving results. I will apply that same accountability to our schools. My goal is simple: deliver excellent education while protecting taxpayers. I'm not running to raise taxes. I'm running to raise expectations. Strongsville deserves schools that are safe, rigorous, and efficient; schools that strengthen both our kids' future and our community's property values. What is the biggest challenge facing the school district and how would you address it? Haffner: Our current biggest challenge is the aging infrastructure. We currently have overpopulated elementary schools and unsafe learning environments for our elementary school students. I plan to address this issue by supporting the proposed bond issue, but also by researching options to remodel the schools currently facing the more critical infrastructure concerns. We need to have reasonable options readily available to ensure our students are learning in a structurally sound environment. Heckman: While certainly not the only challenge, the single biggest challenge facing Strongsville Schools today is assured adequate funding. We must be able to deliver quality education to our students in a fiscally conservative manner. I would explore with the district potential areas of cost savings. Beyond that, I believe that effective communication with the community is imperative. Taxpayers overwhelmingly care about our children and our schools, and want to see them succeed. But too often they feel unsure of where their money is going; when these communication breakdowns happen, it is the job of the board to respond. Wahl: The biggest challenge is balancing excellence with affordability. Strongsville must stay competitive in Ohio's education marketplace, where dollars follow students, without overburdening our taxpayers. That means higher standards in academics and behavior, smarter use of every dollar, and creative funding through grants, business partnerships and alumni support. If we manage strategically, we can protect property values, attract families and provide every child with a safe and challenging education, all without burdening residents with repeated levy requests. Strong schools and fiscal responsibility are not opposites. Done right, they are two sides of the same coin. — Christina Jolliffe