Monday, July 30, 2012
Legal counsel to the Illinois Press Association says $66,000 tuition reimbursement missing from James Mitchem's contract is unusual, but not necessarily an Open Meetings Act violation.
Confusion and some concern followed a Valley View School District 365U board vote this month adding a $66,000 tuition reimbursement check to Superintendent James Mitchem's contract. School Board President Steven Quigley said July 16 that the tuition reimbursement for Mitchem's doctorate degree was discussed during contract negotiations but "inadvertently got left out of the contract." The error was brought to his attention in June, Quigley said. "I feel like we're obligated to do it," Quigley said. "There is no hidden agenda." Mitchem told Patch the reimbursement was a verbal agreement settled in late 2010. He said he is an educator, not a lawyer, and trusted the agreement would be included in his contract. Patch readers wanted to know…
Friday, July 20, 2012
Valley View School District 365U school board officials said the tuition reimbursement for Superintendent James Mitchem Monday was 'inadvertently' left out of his contract.
Negotiations for a $65,658 tuition reimbursement for Valley View School District 365U Superintendent James Mitchem were settled in late 2010, Mitchem told Patch Thursday. The reimbursement was a "verbal agreement across the table," he said. Get Bolingbrook news in your inbox. Sign up for our newsletter. But the tuition reimbursemet was "inadvertently" left out of Mitchem's contract, officials said. The Valley View school board approved an amendment at Monday's board meeting to provide Mitchem with the reimbursement by Aug. 1. School Board President Steven Quigley said the error in Mitchem's contract was brought to his attention in June and because of scheduling, the amendment just ended up on the July agenda. "I feel like we're …
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
Effort is designed to put Valley View students on track for college, careers.
When James Mitchem took the reins as Valley View School District’s new superintendent last July, he unveiled “The New View, A Design for Change,” which called for increased rigor, changes in curriculum, assessment, grading scales and more, in a district-wide effort to put all Valley View students on track for college and careers. Mitchem introduced the plan to the community through a series of forums over the past year. At Monday’s meeting of the board of education, the superintendent reiterated the importance of providing Valley View teachers with the tools they need to maximize their efforts in the classroom. “If you are riding a mule and running a horse race, it doesn’t matter how good the jockey is,” Mitchem said. “We are in a …
Tuesday, April 10, 2012
Superintendent “letter to the district” addresses proposed program changes, staffing cuts.
Before officially taking over as Valley View School District’s new superintendent last July, James Mitchem addressed faculty and staff during a February 2011 presentation, calling for increased rigor, reallocating resources to the lower grades and making sure students don’t move on to high school without being properly prepared. In an email sent to all 2,500 Valley View School District teachers and staff members Monday morning, Superintendent James Mitchem defended the changes — and “difficult decisions” — that are helping shape what he’s called his “New View” for the district. The email came after a somewhat tense March 26 board of education meeting that drew hundreds of parents and teachers, many of whom spoke out against proposed …
Friday, February 10, 2012
Valley View Superintendent James Mitchem to be the featured speaker at the 12th Annual Black History Month Celebration.
Not everyone’s story has yet been told. That’s why Valley View School District 365U Superintendent James Mitchem said programs such as tomorrow night’s 12th Annual Black History Month Celebration are so important. “I think now that our society is much more progressive, it’s important that everyone’s story is told with truth,” he said. “Events like these help promote historical truth as well as healing and a sense of camaraderie.” The free program will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Bolingbrook High School auditorium, 365 Raider Way, and include a poetry reading, live music, dramatic skit, African youth dancers, food, door prizes, and Mitchem as the academic speaker. February marks the 85th annual recognition of Black History Month in the …
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
Valley View School District Superintendent James Mitchem says students are "are far more capable than scores may show.”
Valley View students failed to make adequate yearly progress on this year’s ISAT tests, according to information released by the state Monday. But the district’s state report card does show signs of improvement—if you know where to look. Valley View scores, which remained about flat this year, still rate behind state averages. But gains have been made on a grade-by-grade basis, administrators say. According to the Illinois State Report Card, 72.3 percent of Valley View students met or exceeded Illinois learning standards on the Illinois State Achievement Test (ISAT). That’s below the statewide average of 76.5 percent and slightly below last year’s district mark of 72.8 percent. Under guidelines set forth in the No Child Left Behind Act, …
Thursday, October 13, 2011
What is your approval rating of the following local governmental boards and officials?
Have more to say than just 'Yes', 'No' or 'No opinion'? Leave a comment below and tell us why you voted the way you did!
Saturday, October 1, 2011
An interpreter will be part of events to help 'New View' message reach Spanish-speaking residents.
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Saturday, October 1, 2011
Editor's note: The following is a release issued by Valley View School District. Even as Valley View School District 365U’s Superintendent James Mitchem completes his series of September community forums, three new forums have been scheduled for October with a slightly different twist — the forums will be presented in Spanish, as well as English. “We want to make sure all of our residents are able to understand how critical 'The New View: A Design for Change' is to the future of our school district,” said Mitchem, who will make a small portion of his presentation in English, pause for the Spanish translation, and then continue in English, pausing frequently for additional Spanish translation. The initial forum will take place at 6 p.m. on …
Monday, September 19, 2011
We know you're busy, so here's a roundup of some of the recent stories featured right here on Bolingbrook Patch.
Too busy last week to stay up to date on all the news happening in and around Bolingbrook? Not to worry. Patch has your back. In case you missed them, here were some of the top headlines from the last few days:
Friday, September 16, 2011
Under the 90/10 policy, emphasis is placed on the end result—test scores and mastery of content—and shifted off what James Mitchem calls “compliance” activities like homework and class participation.
It may not be what parents and teachers grew up with, but Valley View Superintendent James Mitchem's new 90/10 grading policy, which puts more emphasis on tests and what students can prove they know than homework and class participation, is now in your child's classroom. The Valley View school board approved the new policy Sept. 12. At its core, the policy will place less emphasis on formative assessments and compliance, like homework or class projects, and more on the end result—summative assessments, or passing tests and proving mastery of the subject. The plan, which will only be applied to grades 6-12, also allows for test “do-overs.” Teachers or administrators will arrange for remedial assistance for students who don’t show mastery of…
Ken Leibach
10:05 am on Wednesday, August 1, 2012
Board of Education Meeting Schedule for 2012 School Year July 16, 2012 August 13, 2012 August 27, 2012 September 10, 2012 September 24, 2012 October 9, 2012 --- TUESDAY** (Because of Columbus Day Holiday) October 22, 2012 November 13, 2012 --- TUESDAY** (Because of Veterans’ Day Holiday) November 26, 2012 December 10, 2012 more ›