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Aurora East board names two student board members; superintendent touts graduation, biliteracy and AP gains
Summary
The Aurora East USD 131 Board appointed two student board members for the 2026–27 school year and heard Superintendent Dr. Halvorsen spotlight graduate counts, record biliteracy recognitions, strong AP participation and large—but inconsistently reported—scholarship totals.
The Aurora East USD 131 Board of Education on June 1 appointed two students as nonvoting student board members for the 2026–27 school year and heard a superintendent report highlighting academic milestones.
Superintendent Dr. Halvorsen announced that Roberto Deacono Arroyo and Gio Nabogar will begin their student board terms Aug. 1 so they can complete their junior year before taking the seat. The secretary administered the student board oath; both students responded “Yes” when prompted to affirm the oath.
The superintendent used his communications time to present district results from the school year. He said East Aurora High School celebrated 756 graduates in May and reported a record number of biliteracy recognitions: 357 total (198 seals of biliteracy and 159 commendations). He also noted strong advanced placement participation, saying 1,407 students took a combined 1,995 AP exams across roughly 27 courses.
Dr. Halvorsen described the district’s scholarship totals as substantial but the transcript contains inconsistent figures: he initially cited “over $24,700,000” offered to the graduating class and later referenced $737,920 while saying the larger amount is a conservative estimate because colleges sometimes keep awards private. The board did not provide a single reconciled figure during the meeting.
Board President Cifuentes led a moment of silence at the start of the meeting to honor two recent losses in the East High community: former board member Bob McHugh (served 1997–2007) and longtime teacher Jason Lawrence.
The student appointments and superintendent report concluded without formal debate; the board proceeded to consent and committee business later in the meeting.
