Aurora East USD 131 superintendent spotlights student awards, mental-health symposium and roughly $1 million in grants
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Summary
Superintendent Dr. Halverson highlighted Black History Month events, presented student leadership scholarships, announced a regional mental-health symposium and said the district secured two $500,000 grants to help fund roofing and other building needs.
Dr. Halverson, the district superintendent, used the March 2 board meeting to recap recent student events and district supports, announce scholarship awards and publicize upcoming family-facing mental-health and student advocacy events.
Zion Lalawali, the student board member, summarized Black History Month activities that included student music and poetry performances and a keynote by Dr. Julian Wright. Halverson thanked staff and community organizers, including Baritza Martinez, Melissa Diaz and Mary Fultz, and noted a recap video produced by Britney Walker.
Dr. Rob Grossi of Illuminate presented the district’s student-board scholarships. Grossi said the Light Your Light Shine award recognizes students who “embody the spirit of hope, kindness, and positive influence,” and presented certificates and $500 checks to student board members Zion Lalawali and Elizabeth Corral Moreno.
Halverson also described district participation in a regional mental-health symposium on March 7 at Metea Valley High School, noting the event is free and that the district will provide transportation and childcare for Aurora East USD 131 families who register. He announced an additional student-focused program, Voices of Tomorrow, scheduled for March 11 at East Aurora High School, which will host aldermen, school resource officers and district leaders for sessions on mental health, civic engagement and advocacy.
In capital-planning news, Halverson said the district received two grant awards each cited at $500,000: one presented by State Senator Corinne Avila to support roofing work at East Aurora High School and another from State Representative Barbara Hernandez. Halverson said district staff, including Daniel Ullrich and Andy Allen in finance, will work on application and implementation details.
“Thank you to everyone who helped organize and lead these efforts,” Halverson said in closing his report, noting the grants and community events aim to support students, staff and families as the school year continues.
Next steps: the district will post the Black History Month recap video, continue grant application work with the finance office, and host the March 7 mental-health symposium and the March 11 student advocacy event.
