ONTONAGON — After serving 14 years on the Ontonagon Area School Board, Nancy Mattson will no longer be a “staple” of the board. Mattson took over for Dean Juntunen as board president last year. Juntunen was on the board for over 20 years when he also decided not to run for re-election

“I want to thank the administration, the board, the staff, everyone that I worked with,” Mattson stated at her last meeting in December. “Our school has found stability.”

With Mattson’s departure, the board will be electing a new president and officers at this coming Monday evening’s meeting. 

Three new board members will also be sworn in at the meeting, as former Ontonagon County Prosecutor Jim Jessup will join the board along with Renee Pantti and Natalie Morgan.

Mattson thanked those new Board members for running for office and wished them well.

Ontonagon Schools continue to be above average in student-teacher participation. During the Michigan Department of Health shutdown last month, 86% of the students participated in virtual education, 92-95% of those in K-5 were “face-to-face,” and 91% to 96% in 9-12 were also “face-to-face.”

Ontonagon continues to move forward in Vo-Tech training with the “Maker program.” The district is also receiving and working on new technology.

“This includes being able to stream student events and activities,” stated Superintendent-Principal Jim Bobula.

Due to the governor’s orders, Monday’s meeting will continue to be a tele-conference. If you are interested in listening in to the meeting and the swearing in of the new officers, you can call the Ontonagon School business office. The meeting begins at 5:30 p.m.