This Week in Valley View
News and Notes from Around the District
December 12, 2024
News of the Week
VVSD Board to Begin Process of Selecting New Board Member
Valley View Community Unit School District 365U Board of Education Member Leonel Venegas has tendered his resignation from the School Board for personal matters. Mr. Venegas is a longtime resident of the Village of Romeoville and has been a member of the VVSD Board of Education since 2021, and also previously served on the VVSD Board beginning in 2010 after being appointed to an open seat. At the December 9, 2024, Board meeting, the Board declared a vacancy.
VVSD Board President Steve Quigley stated that “Leo has been a Board member for several years. Board members are volunteers who do not get paid and spend a lot of time on School District business. We appreciate the time that Leo has given to represent the Romeoville community and Valley View and we wish him well”.
Mr. Venegas’s term was to expire in the Spring of 2025. The Board will now select a replacement for that limited timeframe. The public may submit a resume and a brief letter regarding why they want to be on the Board to VVSD Board Clerk Patty Arriola at ARRIOLAPA@vvsd.org by Monday, December 16 at noon. The candidate interviews will occur at a Special Meeting in closed session on Wednesday, December 18 at 9 am at the Ad Center.
The vote/swearing in will be on Monday December 30 at 4 pm at the Ad Center.
VVSD Staff Spotlight- Joel Kussmann, Romeoville HS Math Teacher
Armed with an undergraduate degree in mathematics, Joel Kussmann’s original career plan was to become a college basketball coach. At the start of that path is little, or more likely no pay, so Joel was a substitute math teacher to create some income.
But a funny thing happened while Joel was substitute teaching. He discovered he really enjoyed sharing his love of math with students. So, Joel went back and earned an education degree, a teaching certificate, and then found his home as a math teacher (and freshman basketball coach!) at Romeoville HS.
VVSD Board of Education Approves 2025-26 School Year Calendar
The VVSD Board of Education approved the 2025-26 School Year Calendar at the December 9 Regular Meeting. The First Day of School is Thursday, August 14 for students in grades kindergarten through 12th. The First Day of School for Early Childhood students is Monday, August 25.
VVSD Hiring Now for 2024-25 School Year
VVSD is still hiring for a wide range of positions for the 2024-25 school year with an emphasis on adding to our teams of paraprofessionals, lunchroom/playground aides and special education teachers.
We are also seeking new team members including guest teachers, bus drivers, operations & maintenance, nutrition services, and special education staff.
VVSD’s employment opportunities offer schedules for staff members that are in synchronization with school schedules, making VVSD a great choice for parents who need to have their work schedule match up with the school hours, and Winter and Spring Break for their children. To see all VVSD job opportunities and to apply, visit www.vvsd.org/jobs
VVSD Seeking Guest Teachers and Substitute Personnel
Illinois legislation allows individuals with 60 hours of college credit to apply for a short-term substitute teacher license. The DuPage Regional Office of Education offers the required training, which must be completed prior to licensure. Topics include curriculum, classroom management techniques, school safety, and more.
For more information about becoming a VVSD Guest Teacher, visit https://www.vvsd.org/careers/be-a-substitute
Family Learning & Community Connection Events
RX Mobile Food Pantry & Health Screening at Bolingbrook HS
Tuesday, Jan 14, 2025, 09:00 AM
Bolingbrook High School, Raider Way, Bolingbrook, IL, USA
Fall is Theatre Season in Valley View!
A.Vito Martinez Middle School Presents “Murder on the 518”
In this play red-eye travelers on the westbound 518 are in for a surprise when first one passenger, and then another, mysteriously drop-dead right before their eyes — and just as the train is halted by a rockslide in an isolated canyon. Because the pair appears to have been poisoned, anyone and everyone in the train dining car is a suspect!
Performance dates are Fri. Dec. 13 at 6pm and Sat. Dec. 14 at Noon. Tickets available by cash purchase at the door only. Adults $5, Students $3, Children under 5 years old, no charge.
Kudos for Noteworthy Achievements
The Jane Addams Middle School 8th Grade Girls’ Basketball Team will take their 21-0 record with them to Normal Parkside Junior HS on Sat. Dec. 14 to compete in the quarterfinals of the IESA Class 8-4A Girls Basketball Tournament. Jane Addams will meet Crete-Monee at 11:30 am for a berth in the semifinals. Should they reach the semis, Jane Addams would face Normal Parkside or Edwardsville Lincoln at 5 pm. The 8-4A third place game is Thu. Dec. 19 at 6 pm, the championship game follows at 7:30 pm
Morgan Tuck (Bolingbrook HS ‘12) is now the General Manager of the WNBA’s Connecticut Sun after serving for the last two years as Asst. General Manager and Director of Franchise Development. Morgan is a two-time Illinois High School Ms. Basketball, and in a 13-year span beginning in 2009, played on three IHSA champions at BHS, four NCAA champions at the University of Connecticut, and one WNBA champion with the Seattle Storm.
Seen Around Valley View This Week
The latest edition of a long-running VVSD tradition is the Bolingbrook HS Holiday Band & Choir Concert for VVSD elementary and middle school students. Pictured is the BHS Symphonic Band performing, led by Band Director Bob Hanerhoff.
Romeoville HS 11th grade student and President of the Romeoville DuCAP Teen Leadership Group Ben Smith was a guest presenter at the quarterly VVSD365U Community Partners Breakfast. Ben highlighted the initiatives DuCAP drives to improve our community.
An early morning practice before school on Early Release Day didn’t slow down the Brooks Middle School boys’ basketball team as they practiced under the watchful eyes of coaches Mike Sedor and Jeremy Mankins.
Quick Notes
The next regular meeting of the Valley View Board of Education will be held Monday, January 13 at John J. Lukancic Middle School, 725 W. Normantown Rd., Romeoville IL. This meeting will begin at 6:30 pm, at which time the Board will vote to move to Closed Executive Session. The Public Session of the meeting will begin at 7 p.m.
In accordance with the Open Meetings Act, the Agenda for the meeting will be posted no later than 48 hours prior to the start of the meeting. Click here to view the Agenda The Meeting is available via live stream on the VVSD YouTube Channel, VVSD365U
The Valley View Board of Education will conduct a Special Meeting on Wednesday, December 18 at John J. Lukancic Middle School, 725 W. Normantown Rd., Romeoville IL.
The Board Meeting will begin at 9 a.m. with an Open Session, following the completion of the Open Session, the Board will vote to move to Closed Executive Session for the purpose of conducting candidate interviews for the vacated seat on the Board. In accordance with the Open Meetings Act, the agenda for this meeting will be posted at http://www.boarddocs.com/il/d365u/Board.nsf/Public at least 48 hours prior to the start of the meeting.
The Valley View Board of Education will conduct a Special Meeting on Monday, December 30 at the VVSD Emmie Dunn Administrative Center, 801 W. Normantown Rd., Romeoville IL.
The Board Meeting will begin at 4 p.m., for the purpose of selecting a candidate to fill the vacated Board of Education seat and to administer the oath of office to the selected candidate. In accordance with the Open Meetings Act, the agenda for this meeting will be posted at http://www.boarddocs.com/il/d365u/Board.nsf/Public at least 48 hours prior to the start of the meeting.
Upcoming Events
Upcoming Important School Calendar Dates
Fri. Dec. 20
Early Release (Elem 2:15, MS 1:20, HS 12:43)
Dec. 23- Jan. 3
Winter Break
Mon. Jan. 6
Teacher Work Day- No Classes for Students
Tue. Jan. 7
Classes Resume for Students
Wed. Jan. 15
Early Release (Elem 2:15, MS 1:20, HS 12:43)
Events for the Coming Week
Thu. Dec. 12
BJ Ward Elementary Family Movie Night 5 pm
Lukancic Middle School Holiday Band Concerts 6:30 pm
Bolingbrook HS Holiday Band and Choir Concert 6:30 pm
Romeoville HS Winter Band and Choir Concert 6:30 pm
Bolingbrook HS Holiday Band and Choir Concert 8:30 pm
Fri. Dec. 13
Skoff Elementary Winter Concerts 9:30 am
Independence Elementary Winter Concerts 9:30 am
AV Martinez Middle School Fall Play Murder on the 518 6 pm
Addams Middle School Beginning Band Winter Concert 7 pm
Sat. Dec. 14
AV Martinez Middle School Fall Play Murder on the 518 Noon
Tue. Dec. 17
Wood View Elementary Winter Concerts at Brooks Middle School 5:30 pm
Wed. Dec. 18
McGee Elementary Winter Concerts at Bolingbrook HS 6 pm
Fri. Dec. 20
Mitchem Early Childhood Winter Frolic 10 am
Community Connections
Bolingbrook Park District
Bolingbrook Park District residents and Valley View School District students are now able to register for the REACH All-Day Care program. All the information and how to register is located at the following: http://www.bolingbrookparks.org/en/programs/reach-extended-school-care/
Fountaindale Public Library
Take flight with Reading Dragons & Friends. Earn unique trading cards and battle your friends. For every 30 minutes you read, you will receive one card. The more you read, the more cards you earn. You can also earn cards by attending special events and completing reading challenges throughout the year. For kids in grades K–5. Stop by Fountaindale Library's Children's Services Desk to sign up today! Learn more at fountaindale.org/dragons.
DuPage Township
DuPage Township offers specific financial assistance and food security programs. Financial assistance is administered through the office, 241 Canterbury Lane, Bolingbrook. Food services are at the DuPage Township Food Pantry, 719 Parkwood Blvd., Romeoville. Call/visit 630-759-1317 or dupagetownship.com for more information.
West Suburban Community Pantry
West Suburban Community Pantry provides emergency food services to people in DuPage and Will Counties through both our in-person and virtual food pantries. We also connect families with other vital resources so they can pursue a brighter future. We are breaking down barriers that prevent our neighbors from getting the nourishment they need to succeed by offering a variety of services. Find out more at WSCPantry.org, or shop for groceries online at VirtualFoodPantry.net
Romeoville Community Pantry
The Romeoville Community Pantry is a community service organization operated by volunteers in the Romeoville community. The Pantry serves anyone who lives in Romeoville, Bolingbrook, Lockport, Plainfield, Lemont, and Crest Hill. The pantry is open every Saturday 9:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. Clients are asked to provide a current photo ID and proof of residence in order to participate in our services. The location is inside the United Presbyterian Church located at 2 Belmont Drive in Romeoville. Please check the Romeoville Community Pantry Facebook page for any further updates https://www.facebook.com/romeovillecommunitypantry/
Northern Illinois Food Bank
The Northern Illinois Food Bank is conducting mobile food banks and micro pantries in the vicinity in the near future. Please bring bags or boxes. Micro Pantries are designed to allow anonymous food pick-up for those in need and a drop-off point for those who wish to help. Micro pantries are accessible 24 hours a day. To find a Micro Pantry near you visit: http://arcg.is/04LijC
Will County MAPP Food Micro Pantries
Will County Mobilizing for Action through Planning and Partnerships conducts micro and mobile food pantries throughout Will County. Click here for more details and a map of locations.