Mitchem to Host Meet and Greet Sessions

Editor's note: The following is a release from the Valley View School District.

“Love your child. We’ll take care of the rest.”

That’s what James Mitchem, s new superintendent, told the Bolingbrook Rotary Club last week.

“My focus is not on what parents can do that I can witness like the PTO, or coming to school for this or that event, or joining the boosters. These things are very important, however, it is what parents do that we, as educators, don’t witness that is of critical importance.” he said, “If you really want to be involved, take care of your children, feed them, clothe them, don’t let them run the streets, read to them, spend quality time with them, and most of all ensure they know they are loved. If you do all these things and more, when they come to school they are better prepared to learn, and we can see the difference.”

Mitchem, who detailed “The New View: A Design for Change” for Rotarians, was responding to a question about how important parents are in the education of a child.

“If you’re not going to raise your child and love your child, we’re going to have to love and raise him or her for you. This is as equally critical to a student’s success as math and reading in making sure all of our students are prepared for the rigor of post secondary life,” he said. “Should we have to do this? No, we shouldn’t have to. But, in some cases, that’s what we’re faced with. We don’t have a choice. Otherwise the child fails.”

Mitchem urged Rotarians to join other community members in attending one of VVSD’s six September community forums to learn in greater detail about all of the new measures put in place in VVSD for the current school year. The VVSD superintendent, as well as members of his administrative team, will be available to the community for open-house-style group questions and one-on-one conversations on any school-related topics. 

Six meet and greets scheduled

The scheduled “meet and greet” forums are:

Elementary schools

• 1470 Raven Drive, Bolingbrook: 6 to 8 p.m., Sept. 13
• 616 Dalhart, Romeoville: 6 to 8 p.m., Sept. 15

Middle schools

• , 725 Normantown, Romeoville: 6 to 8 p.m., Sept. 20
• , 777 Falconridge, Bolingbrook: 6 to 8 p.m., Sept. 22

High schools

• , 365 Raider Way: 6 to 9 p.m., Sept. 27
•  100 N. Independence Boulevard: 6 to 9 p.m., Sept. 29.