Valley View Seeks Community Input On Superintendent Search

BOLINGBROOK, IL — The Valley View School District is seeking the community's input as part of its efforts to find a replacement for outgoing Superintendent Dr. James A. Mitchem Jr. Through Monday, interested community members and district staff can take a survey seeking to find out what neighbors want in a new schools chief.

The community survey is part of the district's efforts to identify candidates to be the next superintendent of schools. In June, Mitchem announced he would be retiring after the 2019-2020 school year, after spending nine years on the job.

Libertyville-based BWP and Associates has been retained to help the district find a new superintendent. A letter of understanding between the district and the firm says the selectionof a candidate will be made no later than Jan. 30, 2020, with the new superintendent starting July 1, 2020.

Before candidates are selected, the district is seeking the community's input on what skills, experience and characteristics the new superintendent should have. The survey, which will be open through Monday, is available here. A Spanish language version is here.

Mitchem, former principal of Bolingbrook High School, has served as superintendent since July 1, 2011, taking the reins at a time when the district faced at $10 million deficit.