Mitchem: 'I Take Responsibility' For Bolingbrook Principal Turnover

• Read: Bolingbrook HS Principal Out; RHS Administrator to Take the Helm

"At the last board meeting, I apologized for that," Mitchem told parents of the frequent turnover. "I do take responsibility for that. It was not my intention when we hired Mr. Williams that he not be here today. It was not my intention when we hired Mr. White that he not be here today ... We really felt like we had the right choice for BHS."

Mitchem said due to White’s separation agreement, there are some aspects of the principal’s departure he is not at liberty to discuss, but did deny that he and White clashed over a "personality conflict." 

Mitchem also addressed "notions that I ran [White and Williams] out of town."

"In fact, both of them I asked more than once not to resign," Mitchem told parents. "They made the decision that this was not the place for them."

As far as a search for White's replacement goes, Mitchem said it will progress "very slowly." Applications are currently being accepted for the post, although Mitchem said the search will begin in earnest following spring break.

'Bolingbrook High School is not a dangerous place'

Other parents had questions about security on the BHS campus, saying their kids had felt safe due to the strict rules implemented by White.

Mitchem, who said the same strong focus on discipline will be kept in place, repeatedly emphasized that he believes BHS is a safe place. He denied that fights and acts of violence have increased since White's departure.

"I'm concerned by the picture of our children that has been painted at Bolingbrook High School," Mitchem said, adding he takes umbrage at comments about students being "gangsters, hoodlums, thugs."

"That's not who our children are," he said. "Bolingbrook High School is not a dangerous place."

Several parents asked about an incident in January involving a student with a BB gun; the freshman reportedly believed it was a real weapon when he allegedly threatened a teacher with it. The teen then went into a bathroom, where he reportedly put the gun to his own head before White intervened.

A parent asked about rumors that the same student had brought a knife to Brooks Middle School during his seventh-grade year.

"We cannot speak about a child discipline incident because that is illegal," Mitchem said, adding the law also only allows school districts to suspend students for a maximum of 10 days. Before being expelled, a student must be allowed due process, which includes a hearing, and the issue must go before the school board. Even then, Illinois school districts can only expel a student for two years.

Even if that particular student was expelled during seventh grade, Valley View would not have been able to refuse him enrollment this year, Mitchem said. 

"We took the issue very seriously and will take appropriate [disciplinary] action," Mitchem said, calling the BB gun incident "very unfortunate, but it could happen anywhere."

Mitchem did confirm that the student, who was taken into custody by Bolingbrook police following the Jan. 30 incident, is not currently attending school.

Responding to a parent's question as to whether the district is helping the teen with counseling, Mitchem noted, "We cannot force counseling on a student. We can suggest counseling," but ultimately it is up to the family. 

While he said the district "cannot guarantee an incident won't happen," Mitchem said staff have to be prepared to respond. He addressed new safety measures being taken at BHS and other campuses, such as the installation of new alarm systems that sound in the event of a hard lockdown, and strobe light system that will alert anyone outside the building to a lockdown.

• Read: Lockdowns Prompt New Security Measures at Bolingbrook, Romeoville Schools.
  
  

Mitchem said claims from teachers and parents that incidents of violence have increased at BHS "just aren't true."

He did acknowledge that security sweeps were conducted on Thursday and more were scheduled for March 11 due to graffiti on a bathroom wall that implied an incident could happen on those dates.

"Those things are not unique," Mitchem said.

'We have to move forward'

Yolanda Jordan, a former BHS dean and current Romeoville High School assistant principal, is serving as BHS' interim principal. She also addressed questions from parents on Thursday.

"I'm not Mr. White," Jordan said, acknowledging anger from some parents and students since White's departure. " ... That's just not who I am. I care about the kids. My goal is to work with you, not against you."

She acknowledged that the absence of White "is a loss." 

"There's hurt in the families. There's hurt in the students ... but we have to move forward," Jordan said. "Mr. White isn't coming back. That is the truth, that is the fact, so we have to move forward."