Navigating Rough Waters: New Valley View Chief Will Take The Helm During Time of Transition

A month after being chosen as the next superintendent of the , James Mitchem has his work cut out for him.

Currently the principal at Bolingbrook High School, Mitchem is taking the reins as the district faces a , despite making more than $10 million in cuts less than a year ago.

At the same time, the district is combating dismal state test scores and is poised to undergo an to increase efficiency and bolster supports for principals. This district is also in the process of increasing course rigor at both the and levels.

Mitchem recently sat down with Romeoville Patch to talk about his past, present and future — and the future of Valley View.

Born in Italy to a U.S. military family, Mitchem spent time living in Germany and studied there, as well as Washington State, Kentucky, Indiana, Arizona and New Mexico.

"I am the epitome of the transient kid, moving from place to place to place," Mitchem said.

He's done a lot of moving around in Valley View, too, spending two years as principal at in Bolingbrook, four years at the helm at and, most recently, five years as principal at BHS.

He joined Valley View in 1980, leaving to work as a college-level administrator from 1995 to 1999 before returning to the district.

After Superintendent Phillip Schoffstall announced he would retire at the end of the year, Mitchem was tapped to take the post.

Board president Steve Quigley set the bar high for the new superintendent following the board of education's Oct. 25 vote to appoint Mitchem.

"We're expecting great things from Jim," Quigley said. "We like his no-nonsense approach and his attitude that we can do more for our children."

For his part, Mitchem sees his new job as "fun, a challenge," he said. But the transition hasn't been easy, he said.

The future superintendent has been traveling back and forth between his home campus and the district administration center in Romeoville, where he is working closely with Schoffstall as he transitions into his future role.

"When I'm not here, (Assistant Principal for Curriculum and Instruction) Rachel Kinder takes the lead," Mitchem said, adding the board also allowed him to hire an interim assistant principal to help carry the load.

With the board expected to approve Mitchem's administrative restructuring plan Dec. 13, his first order of business will likely be to oversee the creation of 12 new administrative positions, as another dozen administrator jobs are eliminated.

At the same time, Mitchem will be in the hot seat as the district works to slash a large deficit without negatively affecting academics. In the end, the district will have to learn to live within its means, he said.

"We've been used to having programs and supports that we need to look at," Mitchem said. "Learning to do more with less is always a struggle, but that is our charge."

According to Assistant Superintendent Faith Dahlquist, the district will seek to operate more efficiently without cutting programs. One question administrators will be asking, she said, is "How many (positions) do we absolutely have to have to make this (program) work?"

Despite recent cuts, Mitchem said classroom offerings remain untouched, and enrichment such as before- and after-school tutoring, block courses and resource centers remain in place.

"It really has had minimum impact on academic programs," he said.

After last year's cuts meant the end of middle school basketball and volleyball and the loss of high school bowling classes, Mitchem said he understands why some students and parents are worried about what will be next on the chopping block.

"We kind of allow the kids to tell us, rather than us telling the kids," he said. "If we have 2,000 kids who want to take pottery, we're going to write pottery into the budget."

But some sacrifices will have to be made, whether it's cutting athletic coaching staff or doing without new uniforms, he said.

"Rather than cutting programs, maybe we cut salaries," he said. "We want to save money without hurting the integrity of the program."

Another task Mitchem faces is guiding district staff through all the changes — a process that fills many employees with fear, he said.

"There is going to be a big change in accountability, which none of us are used to, including me," Mitchem said. "That's causing concerns.

"We run the risk of imploding if we don't do this correctly," he said. "We have to be very careful about how we roll out the changes so that we get the best out of the staff and the students."

As he prepares for the year ahead and his new role, Mitchem said he is working closely with Schoffstall.

"He wants nothing but my success," Mitchem said. "I would be a fool not to draw upon the expertise of someone who's been in this position for 30 years."

Acknowledging he has no small task ahead of him, Mitchem said the job would be daunting even without the challenges facing the district.

"Any of the senior leadership positions are daunting," he said. "You're dealing with the public and you're dealing with kids — that's a daunting task, but it's one that I believe we're up to the challenge."