U-46 School Board President Kaczynski won't run again

The Elgin Area School District U-46 school board will have a new leader in the spring.

Ken Kaczynski, a Bartlett resident who has served as board president since 2005, said Friday he does not plan to seek re-election.

Kaczynski, who has served on the board since 2003, said he decided against running again to spend more time on his Mount Prospect business, which makes customized watches.

“It needs more attention,” Kaczynski said. “The recession has taught me I can't assume things are going to go along as they always have. I need to figure out if it's going to go beyond me.”

K&L Watch Service has been in the family since the mid-1960s, when Kaczynski's father started it as a watch repair business.

Kaczynski's seat will be one of four that will be up in the spring. Maria Bidelman, Karen Carney and Amy Kerber will have to run to keep their seats.