Shakeup of Whitnall School Board Includes Change at Top

Updated: 1:50 p.m. Nov. 30

The has a new president, and come this spring, it will have at least one new member.

Bill Osterndorf, one of two incumbents whose terms are set to expire in April, has filed his non-candidacy papers and will not seek re-election for a third term.

"When I originally ran, I said I'd serve two terms and then give other people a turn to serve," Osterndorf said. "I think there are people that can be effective board members over a very long period of time, but frankly, I think there is value in bringing new perspectives to the board."

Osterndorf has been a board member since 2006 and had been the board president since April 2009 before stepping down at a board meeting Nov. 21. Vice president Nancy Zaborowski replaced Osterndorf as president and Bernie Shaw is now vice president.

Osterndorf runs a local consulting business he founded in 1993 and said despite the economy, business is good.

"That's certainly a blessing," he said, "but it takes my time and attention, as it should.

"At the last board meeting, I told the board I simply have too much going on in my work life at the moment to continue to be president."

He and his wife Judy have two children, Laura and Chris, both of whom graduated from . Now that his children are no longer in the district, Osterndorf said he felt out of touch with the schools' day-to-day happenings.

When he leaves the board in April, Osterndorf said he'll be proud of the district's strategic planning process he had a hand in, as well as his success of fostering communication between different groups within the district.

Another incumbent will seek re-election

The other seat up for grabs in the Spring 2012 election is that of incumbent Mike Clarizo, who told Greenfield Patch on Tuesday he does plan to run again. (Update: Clarizo officially filed his papers Tuesday afternoon). Clarizo is in his second year of a special two-year term after serving on the board for nine months for a member who resigned for personal reasons in 2009.

One challenger, Quin Brunette, has filed paperwork so far. but, along with two other challengers, was defeated by incumbents TJ Anderson, Shaw and Zaborowski.

Candidates have until 5 p.m. Jan. 3, to file election paperwork.

Check out Greenfield Patch on Thursday for an early look at the Greenfield School Board race and the city's aldermanic race.