The Valley View Community Unit School District 365U Board of Education has voted to appoint Scott Heil to fill the Board seat that was vacated by the resignation of Leonel Venegas. Heil’s appointment was approved at the Special Meeting of the Board on Monday, December 30, and following the vote, Heil took the Board Member Oath of Office to officially become a Board Member.

“I am honored to be selected to fill this vacancy,” Board Member Heil said. “I am looking forward to working with the other Board members and with VVSD administration to continue to improve opportunities for the students and the VVSD community as a whole.”

Scott Heil is a resident of Romeoville and has been a District resident for 35 years. The VVSD Board selected Board Member Heil following interviews with all individuals who submitted their interest in filling the five-month vacancy. This seat will then be filled for a full term via the consolidated election on Tuesday, April 1, 2025.

Scott and his spouse, Andrea, have children attending VVSD schools. Board Member Heil has been actively involved in various youth programs as a coach in both Romeoville and Bolingbrook. He currently serves as the Athletic Director for the Romeoville Flag Football League. Scott has a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Accounting from North Central College and is employed as a sales accounting manager for a company that provides forklifts to warehouses.

Board President Steve Quigley said: “The Board looks forward to working with Mr. Heil and getting him up to speed quickly. He realizes the time commitment for this unpaid volunteer position and has indicated a readiness to tackle the issues and opportunities facing our District. We appreciate him lending his skills and experience to meet those challenges.”

VVSD Superintendent of Schools Dr. Keith Wood provided an update to the Board of Education at the January 13 Regular Meeting. Since we are now firmly in winter’s grasp, Dr. Wood gave a reminder regarding procedures regarding weather related closures. Dr. Wood also announced that kindergarten registration for the Class of 2038 begins on Feb. 28.

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Amy Kehr wears two different hats as a member of the Brooks Middle School staff. Under the classroom teacher hat, Amy is a physical education teacher. The other hat she wears is as the Brooks athletic director who coordinates schedules and brings together everything to operate the co-curricular student athletic activities at Brooks.

Amy is a 19-year veteran of the Brooks staff who began her career right out of college after graduating from Illinois State University. The first question we posed to Amy was why, out of all the different disciplines in teaching, she chose to be a middle school PE teacher.

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VVSD will open Kindergarten registration for the Class of 2038 on Fri. Feb. 28 through the online enrollment process. To be eligible to register, a student must be five years old on or before Sept 1, 2025, and the family must live with VVSD boundaries. Families of current VVSD students will be able to register via their Infinite Campus Parent Portal account, while families new to the District will be able to register online. Click here for more details about the enrollment process.

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

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

Bolingbrook HS 12th grade student Miriam Tsegay will represent Illinois during the 63rd Annual United States Senate Youth Program, March 1-8 in Washington DC. Miriam is one of 104 students nationwide selected for this honor that will attend meetings and briefings with President Trump, U.S. senators including Illinois Senators Richard Durbin and Tammy Duckworth, a justice of the Supreme Court, leaders of cabinet agencies, and other officials throughout the week.

Jane Addams Middle School Principal Sonia Ruiz is the 2025 Illinois Principal Association Three Rivers Region Middle School Principal of the Year. Sonia is now entered into consideration for the statewide IPA Middle School Principal of the Year Award.

Humphrey Middle School Principal Dan Laverty is the recipient of the 2025 Illinois Principal Association Three Rivers Region Herman Graves Award. The Herman Graves Award was established in 1991 to recognize outstanding service in connecting the IPA to its member schools throughout the state. Dan is now entered into consideration for the statewide IPA Herman Graves Award.

Bolingbrook HS Asst. Principal Claudia Gurney is the recipient of the Illinois Principal Association Three Rivers Region Building Bridges Award. The Building Bridges Award honors someone who is working to continue to build important relationships within schools and their community, such as the one Claudia has fostered between VVSD and Lewis University. Claudia is now entered into consideration for the statewide IPA Building Bridges Award.

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

Businesses across Will County are partnering with the Will County Center for Economic Development to offer over 140 paid internships for Will County High School students. Applications are available now and must be submitted by Fri. Feb. 21. VVSD has set up a Google Classroom to support students through the resume building and application process. Student can use this code to join the Google classroom: zumz6a7

Will County CED will also have informational tables during lunch at Romeoville HS on Wed. Jan. 22, and Bolingbrook HS on Thu. Jan. 23 to answer any questions students would like to ask.

Upcoming Important School Calendar Dates

Mon. Jan. 20

Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Birthday- No Classes

Wed. Jan. 29

Early Release (Elem 2:15, MS 1:20, HS 12:43)

Wed. Feb. 12

Early Release (Elem 2:15, MS 1:20, HS 12:43)

Events for the Coming Week

Thu. Jan. 23

BJ Ward Elementary Family Fitness Night 5:30 pm

Fri. Jan. 24

Hermansen Elementary PTO Pastries with Parents 7:30 am

Thu. Jan. 30

Hermansen Elementary Family Math Night 5 pm

Thu. Feb. 6

Bolingbrook HS 9th Grade & Concert Band Concerts 6 pm

Bolingbrook HS Wind & Symphonic Band Concerts 7:30 pm

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.

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.