After decades of calling the White Lake area home, Montague Area Public Schools Board of Education President Brent Raeth will be stepping down from the board as he prepares to move just outside district boundaries.
Raeth’s roots in the community run deep. He grew up in the White Lake area, attended Montague schools throughout his childhood, and graduated from Montague High School in 1995. That lifelong connection, he said, has shaped both his personal values and his approach to leadership.
“I have always loved this small town,” Raeth said. “This community helped form who I am. I have tried to live with a simple mission: help people and solve problems. Serving on the school board gave me a meaningful way to do that for the place that raised me.”
Answering the Call in a Season of Uncertainty
Raeth joined the Montague school board in 2020 during a period of instability, filling a partial term left vacant after a board member resigned. His arrival coincided with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, a time that demanded steady leadership and difficult decision-making.
“There was some instability when I joined,” Raeth said. “What our district needed was a board that could work together, stay focused, and provide consistent leadership while our educators and administrators did the hard work of supporting students through an unprecedented period.”
As that partial term came to an end, Raeth chose to run for election in 2022. He said he felt he still had more to give to the community and wanted to help the district continue moving forward. Voters elected him to a full term, and he has served as board president for the past two years.
Leadership and Accomplishments
During his tenure, Raeth helped guide the board through ongoing pandemic recovery, major initiatives, and long-term planning. He is particularly proud of the district’s ability to remain focused on students while navigating uncertainty and change.
Among the accomplishments he points to are supporting the vision that led to the completion of the new Competitive Gym and the planned Montague agricultural and FFA barn, as well as helping provide a stable governance environment that allowed administrators, staff, and community partners to do their best work.
“My goal was never to be the center of anything,” Raeth said. “It was to help create stability and a healthy board culture so that great people could accomplish great things for our district.”
What He Will Miss
As he prepares to step away, Raeth said the hardest part of leaving will be the relationships built over years of service.
“The people are what I’ll miss the most,” he said. “The board members, administrators, teachers, staff, and community members who care deeply about kids. Those relationships matter, and they don’t just end because a term does.”
Raeth also emphasized that his move is not taking him far from the community he loves.
“I want people to know I’m not going far,” he said. “We’re just moving across the river to our cottage in Whitehall. This area will always be home.”
Timing and Next Steps
While Raeth has confirmed his intent to resign due to the move, the exact timeline has not yet been finalized. He expects the transition to occur sometime between February and March, allowing the board time to plan for continuity and a smooth leadership transition.
“This is not me stepping away from caring or involvement,” Raeth said. “It’s simply a practical reality tied to residency requirements.”
District officials will outline the formal process to fill the vacancy once the resignation timeline is set.
A Lasting Commitment to Community
Even as he steps down from the school board, Raeth remains active in community service and leadership throughout the White Lake area. He says his hope is that his time on the board is remembered for calm leadership, collaboration, and an unwavering focus on students.
“In small towns, reputation and relationships are everything,” Raeth said. “I hope people saw a board that took the work seriously, treated each other with respect, and stayed focused on what matters most.”
For Raeth, the transition is bittersweet, but the gratitude remains.
“This district gave me a foundation,” he said. “Serving as board president has been one of the most meaningful ways I’ve been able to give back.”
Stay connected to what’s happening in our area by visiting CatchMark Community.
Powered by CatchMark Technologies — helping people, solving problems. Explore more on our website.
