Blue Devil uniforms a source of pride

Mary Pritchard can't get away from Villa Grove High School nor does she want to.

Pritchard graduated from the school, as did her four children. Now, she's the high school's principal and can't say enough good things about it.

"There's nothing like a Villa Grove Blue Devil," Pritchard said.

Pritchard's 200 high school students attend classes in the same building as the rest of the district's 670 students. Though the different classes share separate wings of the building, they sometimes share its two gymnasiums, Superintendent Steven Poznic said.

"It's very friendly, with close-knit group of staff and students," he said. "It's almost like a family atmosphere."

Poznic, who is serving his second year as superintendent, said the district isn't thinking about consolidating with any other schools.

"When the district first formed, it had 635 students," he said. "It hasn't fluctuated much from its original size."

Villa Grove's high school teams compete in Little Okaw Valley Conference football, basketball, volleyball, track, cross-country golf, softball and baseball. But other organizations thrive there as well. The varsity scholastic bowlers won an invitational at Parkland College last year, and the junior varsity team was undefeated. Villa Grove also offers chorus, band and jazz band.

Through those organizations, Poznic said he's seen firsthand how the community supports its students.

"If there's a need in the school district, somehow a group in town ... always seems to find a way to fulfill that need," Poznic said. "It's amazing how parents and business leaders come together. People always seem to step up."