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ONAWAY — On Tuesday at a special meeting of the school board, Mitchell Winfield was voted in as the newest member of the Onaway Area Community School District Board of Education after former board member Lain Veihl resigned on Dec. 9.

Board President Mike Hart announced his retirement at the meeting as well. Hart’s resignation became official on Jan. 1.

Veihl’s resignation was announced at the Dec. 9 regular meeting, according to a Facebook livestream recording by board member Stacey Porter. Veihl was not present at that meeting due to personal business, but Hart read his resignation letter to the board.

“Unfortunately, as things develop at my job and personal life, it is clear I cannot give the Onaway Area Schools the attention it both demands and deserves. It was an honor serving my community, but effective immediately, I am resigning from the Onaway Area school board,” the letter read.

At the special meeting held on Tuesday, the board interviewed one candidate, Winfield, to fill the vacated seat, according to a Facebook livestream of that meeting by Stacey Porter.

Winfield has sat on the Onaway school board in the past. When asked by board member John Kaszyoni what his experience was like, he replied, “interesting”.

“My kids, they all went through this school…my mom, dad, my wife’s mother and father were all alumni. I felt it was something that I could do to help support my kids and my community…it was pretty awesome, I will say. I enjoyed it. I might not have enjoyed some of the disagreements that we had, but we worked through them.”

“I was on the board when the bond was passed…for the media center, the additions on the classrooms,” Winfield said.

He described how he and other board members attended church and organization meetings around town to spread the word.

“We were very passionate about getting it passed,” Winfield said.

Board members Stacey Porter and Taed Price said that they both graduated from Onaway when the library was under construction in 2004 as a result of the bond.

Hart said it was about 16 years ago that Winfield resigned during Hart’s first term. His resignation was due to his job, which brought him out-of-state most of the time.

“I love the fact that he’s got the experience with this board,” Board Member Annette Porter said after Winfield’s interview.

“I am very glad that you decided to offer yourself up for bait,” Price said, tongue in cheek. “Knowing what goes on in the community, and having been a part of the community for as long as you have.”

The board voted unanimously to elect Winfield to the vacant seat.

After the vote, Hart announced his retirement.

“As I kind of gave a warning, I did say that I would last until the end of this month and then I was going to retire from the board,” he said. “And although I’ve had some people contacting me asking me not to, I do think it’s best right now for me to go ahead and do that. It’s been a long time. I really really love this school. I really love my community. But it’s time for me to go and (let) younger people and different people have their views expressed as well. And honestly the last few years took a lot out of me.”

He expressed his gratitude to the community and the board members he has served with.

“Effective midnight January 1, 2026, I will tender my resignation,” Hart said. “It has been an experience and a blessing to me. I’m very thankful that my fellow members entrusted me with this chair position.”

“So this is my last meeting guys,” Hart said. “I would not step away if I did not trust you guys to take care of this school.”

The board’s next regular meeting is scheduled at 7 p.m. on Jan. 13 in the school’s library.

Reagan Voetberg can be reached at 989-358-5683 or rvoetberg@TheAlpenaNews.com.