Educational Foundation reports record fundraising and more scholarships; district honors East High alumnus and APD officer

Mark Mickelaney, chairperson of the East Aurora Educational Foundation, presented the foundation’s annual report during the public comment period on Sept. 2, saying the foundation recorded all‑time highs in fundraising and in scholarship awards. Mickelaney said last year the foundation awarded 33 scholarships and that the foundation expects to award 45 scholarships for 2025–26. He distributed copies of the foundation’s third annual report and thanked volunteers and longtime supporters by name.

In district communications, Britney Walker introduced Officer Gerardo Chaitas of the Aurora Police Department and presented a hometown hero award. Walker said Chaitas, an East Aurora High School alumnus and current school resource officer, intervened during a January 2024 dog attack on a young girl — applying a tourniquet and helping to save her life — and later helped a motorcycle crash victim while on vacation in Texas. Walker described Chaitas’s actions as life‑saving and welcomed his return to East Aurora High School as a school resource officer.

Superintendent Dr. Halverson (phonetic variants in the transcript) thanked Officer Chaitas and noted increased collaboration with the Aurora Police Department, including some officers patrolling on bikes near Phillips Park at the start of the school year.

Mickelaney’s public remarks emphasized the foundation’s history, volunteer support and fundraising growth; he asked board members to accept copies of the annual report. The board did not take formal action on the presentation or the award; both were presented as part of communications and public comment.

The district continues to highlight community partnerships — including the educational foundation and the Aurora Police Department — as it begins the 2025–26 school year.