Valley View School District is a mess. It is a mess academically. Faculty moral is very low, with all indicators that it will continue to drop. There is no confidence in the administrative leadership.

Academics are at an all time low after years of promises from Superintendent James Mitchem. While Mitchem is enjoying a hefty salary and consistent salary increases, he has failed to provide any proven plan(s) to increase the district's academics, let alone address the faculty moral and lack of confidence in the administration!. Mitchem himself, has not demonstrated ANY visible leadership. Mitchem has made many, many promises but is consistent in only two things - collecting a substantial, underserved salary and failing to deliver on his promises.

In August 2013, Mitchem stood before 100 new VVSD teachers at a New Teachers Orientation. He said, “Working in Valley View is going to be tough. Failure is not an option,” he said. “We expect to not only be the best school district in the state, but also one of the best districts in the country.”

In the most recent State survey, where teacher respondents can remain anonymous, about 70% of teachers at Bolingbrook High School disagreed or strongly disagreed that their principal is an effective manager. Do you think this number has decreased or increased under Mitchem's so-called "leadership"? Maybe this fact will help you. The responses from the BHS teachers were considered so negative that Bolingbrook High tied for the LOWEST SCORE IN THE STATE — a 2 out of 99 in the category of "effective leaders." As BHS never had the lowest score, it is clear what direction James Mitchem's "leadership" has brought things.

At the 2013 New Teachers Orientation, Mitchem also said, "We are an excuseless school district and you’re going to have to work to get results from our kids because we expect nothing less,” Dr. Mitchem added as he stressed the support that would be provided to teachers to be successful.

Well what we do have from Mitchem is excuses and obviously, by the overwhelming lack of teacher confidence in their principals and administration, there isn't the promised support to the teachers. 

James Mitchem is a man lacking in ethics and morals as demonstrated by his current marriage to Jacqueline (Wayne). James and Jacqueline's relationship started while Jacqueline was A MINOR student and athlete at Bolingbrook HS. James Mitchem was an Assistant Dean at Romeoville HS and a girls basketball and volleyball coach at Bolingbrook HS. James Mitchem made the decision to divorce his wife at that time in order to continue and further his relationship with Jacqueline. Oddly enough, Jacqueline is not only now married to James Mitchem, but also is now employed by VVSD as a principal.

A moral or ethical chain is only a strong as it's weakest link. 

The educational cost per student in VVSD in considerably higher than in the neighboring community of Naperville, where there academic scores are much, much higher, as are the student's as well as teacher moral and their confidence in the administration. Ask yourself just how, with such a high cost per student, the academic scores and results continue to go down and down?

The children of this school district deserve a better education opportunity. A better educational opportunity WILL NOT come under the current leadership being provided by this immoral, unethical and self-serving Superintendent. It is time for the people of this community to put aside his long string of unproven promises and see that he does not possess any leadership skills.

James Mitchem should be immediately dismissed for 5 reasons.

1. His lack of ethics/morals. He should have been involved with a student/athlete.

2. His failure to provide a better educational opportunity for the students and effectively make decisions to increase academics.

3. His failure to increase student or teacher moral.

4. The continued downward trend in teacher confidence in the administration.

5. On the average, James Mitchem has consistently provided negative results.

The School Board needs to immediately start a search for a new viable Superintendent. This search for a new Superintendent will send a message that the Board does not approve of the performance of the current Superintendent and that there is no confidence that after his time in the position he is capable of the necessary change. There are many viable candidates who have been part of and understand successful and proven administration. If the taxpayers are going to pay a hefty salary to an Superintendent they have the right to have that Superintendent perform effectively.