D303 Spokesman Leaving School District for New Job

A communications expert with more than a decade of experience in education and public relations has been named Director of Community Relations for Valley View School District 365U, effective July 1.

Jim Blaney, currently the director of school and community relations for St. Charles Community Unit School District 303, will succeed Larry Randa, who is retiring.

A graduate of the University of Northern Colorado with a degree in journalism, Blaney has played a key role in District 303’s communication plans for more than eight years, handling such duties as internal and external communications, overseeing the district website, and managing mass communications to parents, including the district’s mobile app. He also serves as the District 303 FOIA officer.

Comcast Sports Network viewers might recognize Blaney, who will continue in his position as a Comcast play-by-play announcer for high school football and basketball games.

Prior to working for District 303, Blaney was director of public and community outreach for the Chicago Blackhawks, where he headed up the public relations team and oversaw most of the Blackhawks community outreach programs.

He is also a former substitute teacher in both Valley View 365U and Plainfield school districts.

A Bolingbrook resident, Blaney is a founding member of the Kane County Public Relations Council, helped organize the Fox Valley Mental Health Council and was an ex-officio member of the St. Charles Chamber of Commerce Industrial Council. He served as the district’s liaison to the St. Charles Inter-Governmental Council, the City of St. Charles, the St. Charles Public Library, the St. Charles Park District, St. Charles Township and the Kane County Health Department.

Written by Shannon Antinori

Submitted by Valley View School District