BOLINGBROOK, IL – Construction Company F.H. Paschen joined Valley View School District 365 and community leaders to celebrate the start of the 2025-2026 school year with the ribbon-cutting of the new Debbie Sykora Early Childhood Center on Friday, August 22.
The new facility, located adjacent to the existing Oak View Elementary School in Bolingbrook, marks a significant step forward for the District’s commitment to early childhood education.
The 22,000-square-foot facility includes six classrooms, a sensory room, a play area, library, community outreach room, and therapy spaces that are all designed to create a safe, welcoming, and engaging environment for early learning.
Construction of the facility was made possible through a $10 million Early Childhood Construction Grant from the State of Illinois, awarded through the Rebuild Illinois program.
“F.H. Paschen was selected for our ability to manage complex projects and deliver with precision,” said Jim Blair, CEO of F.H. Paschen. “Our team’s experience in early education construction made us the right partner to bring Valley View’s new center to life.”
Representatives from the Valley View Board of Education, district administrators, and the F.H. Paschen project team gathered to recognize the moment. This project adds a second early childhood campus to the district, expanding capacity to better serve local families. The existing Romeoville facility has been instrumental in supporting early learners on that side of the district, and this new facility brings that same opportunity to Bolingbrook.
Named in honor of Debbie Sykora, a dedicated educator who spent 35 years as a teacher and 12 years as a school board member, the center was officially opened with a ribbon-cutting ceremony led by Sykora herself.
With the addition of the new Sykora center, Valley View aims to serve up to 895 early childhood students this year, a 36% increase from last year. The expansion supports the district’s long-standing mission to provide high-quality education environments for all students.
F.H. Paschen served as the general contractor on the project, working alongside DLA Architects, Ltd. The firm brings extensive experience in school construction, including the ENR Midwest award-winning Niles Township High School project.
Valley View School District 365U, located roughly 35 miles southwest of downtown Chicago, serves more than 15,000 students across 21 schools in Bolingbrook, Romeoville, and neighboring communities. The district has a proud history of responding to community growth and educational needs with innovation and care.
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