Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the District Operations Safety topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Aurora East USD 131 staff praise new superintendent; district reports summer enrollment and seeks $86,000 safety-mapping contract
Summary
Building-and-grounds employees spoke in support of the district and its new superintendent. Superintendent Halverson reported summer-school enrollment figures and brought a motion to buy a digital safety-mapping system for all district buildings for $86,000.
Several custodial and building-and-grounds staff addressed the Aurora East USD 131 Board of Education during public comment on the June board meeting, thanking Superintendent Dr. Halverson and urging continued cooperative negotiations as staff prepare for a new contract.
Murrell Heron, who identified himself as a district employee and SEIU Local 73 union steward, told the board he appreciated Halverson's "servant leadership" and thanked the superintendent for meeting with staff on June 5. "We're looking forward to getting to know you better," Heron said, adding that members of the grounds staff came to the meeting after being encouraged by the superintendent's approach.
Jose Antonio, who requested an interpreter, spoke for building-and-grounds workers and said the group came to express gratitude and to seek continued cooperation during upcoming contract negotiations. "We are all united for the well-being of our children," Jose Antonio said, adding that several workers had come straight from shifts to be at the meeting.
In communications from the superintendent, Dr. Halverson reported summer-program enrollment figures and proposed a safety-mapping purchase. Halverson said the district has 454 students enrolled in pre-K through eighth-grade summer programs and 480 students in high school programming, including extended school year services. He added that 62 high-school students had completed summer coursework so far and nine seniors had completed work toward graduation.
Halverson also brought a motion to approve a digital safety-mapping solution from Critical Response Group for all district buildings in the amount of $86,000, saying the mapping will aid local police, fire and medical responders with quicker access and response. "I've got a motion out there, if there's no questions, to approve the safety mapping solution for all district buildings to Critical Response Group in the amount of $86,000," Halverson said; the motion received a second and passed on a roll-call vote.
The superintendent also announced the summer graduation date as July 16 at Aurora University and described a range of summer camps and programs currently running, including soccer, basketball, STEM and youth leadership offerings.
No formal action beyond the safety-mapping contract was recorded during the public-comment portion; board votes on the motion were taken immediately after the superintendent's report.
