After more than 15 years of service, Oak Harbor School Board member Gary Wallin announced Tuesday night he plans to resign from the board, effective June 30.

Wallin said he wants to leave on a high note. He also cited the mounting pressures of his business, Wallin Funeral Home & Cremation, and said he couldn’t hold on until the end of his term.

In a note to Superintendent Lance Gibbon, Wallin described his time on the board as “a wonderful experience.”

“Seeing all the positive changes occur has been one of the highlights of my life,” Wallin said.

Wallin began his time on the board in 2001 as a replacement for Jim Slowik. Wallin came to the role as a parent volunteer, 1967 graduate of Oak Harbor High School and businessman with deep ties to the community. When he began his tenure, the district struggled to pass levies and bonds. Schools needed repair and textbooks were out-of-date.

“We had poor staff and student morale and often observed animosity from the voters,” he said. “This was a low spot in the history of Oak Harbor Schools.”

Wallin described a “magnificent” transformation. Voters began passing levies. The district was able to modernize every school, build a stadium and restore community pride. The board hired a new superintendent.

“I am very thankful for the opportunity to serve the citizens of Oak Harbor,” he said. “It is with a heavy heart that I must now step down. The district is riding high with success after success, and I feel I could not leave at a better time.”

Gibbon told the board he was “very sorry” to receive Wallin’s resignation letter.

“He’s been a part of shepherding this district through challenging times,” Gibbon said. “He’s help set the foundation that has gotten us here today.”

According to school board policy, the board members must select a replacement within 90 days after his resignation. The district plans to advertise the opening and interview candidates. The selected candidate will serve the remainder of Wallin’s term.