CSD just sent out a blast notice announcing that Dr. David Dude is the finalist Decatur’s Superintendent.
He is currently the Chief Operating Officer for Iowa City Community School District.
Here’s CSD’s release…
The City Schools of Decatur Board of Education is proud to announce that Dr. David Dude has been selected as the finalist for Superintendent of Schools.
Dr. Dude is from the Iowa City Community School District where he serves as the Chief Operating Officer responsible for nearly all aspects of operational efficiency and effectiveness in the district. As Chief Operating Officer, Dr. Dude helped academic and curricular initiatives prosper by transforming infrastructure, technology and operational support. After designing and implementing a district-wide technology initiative, he led the district’s Facilities Master Planning process, leading to the adoption of a 10-year plan which includes three new 500-student elementary schools and a new 1500-student comprehensive high school.
The Board selected Dr. Dude following a robust national search facilitated by consulting firm Hazard, Young, Attea and Associates (HYA). A key component of the search was soliciting input from stakeholders regarding the characteristics the new Superintendent should possess. HYA met with 360 stakeholders including students, staff, parents and community members and received nearly 700 responses to the online survey.
More than eighty-five applications were received from thirty-eight states. Current superintendents represented 20% of the applicant pool and assistant superintendents, chiefs and deputy superintendents represented 25-30% of the pool. The Board reviewed applications and selected applicants to interview. Semi-finalist candidates were selected and invited back for a second interview with the Board. A community panel interviewed the semi-finalist candidates and provided feedback to the Board.
“On behalf of the Board, I would like to express our sincere gratitude to the staff, students, parents and community members for taking the time to share input to inform this process,” said Board Chair Garrett Goebel. “Also, thank you to the members of the community interview panel for the many hours of work to provide valued feedback. We are confident that we have found the right leader for City Schools of Decatur.”
The Dude abides!
Except it is pronounced DOO-dee according to his bio. And that’s not funny at all.
Dr Duderino if you’re not into the whole brevity thing.
I automatically like this guy just for what I imagine he’s been through with that name, eg. putting up with the jokes of morons like me. Good on ’em.
Congratulations to Dr. Dude (yeah, I went there)!
But seriously–were there no qualified local candidates? Just curious.
I’m sure there were given the number of applicants.
Dr. Dude looks good on paper. There is no mention in his bio of experience or support of the charter school system concept. What is Dr. Dude’s stance on charter schools is he a supporter? Decatur better continue as a charter school system beyond the current charter period. This is the plan or did I miss something?!
I think this charter school system matter is an important question and issue to understand as I remember reading the new Dekalb County School Superintendent is not a supporter of charter schools.
I don’t know, but perhaps Iowa doesn’t have charter districts. His bio indicates initiatives in several areas, though.
Not sure how a charter school system would benefit Decatur – if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.
Look at what Drew Charter has accomplished over in East Lake/Kirkwood. It contributed in my opinion to the shut down of several local public schools due to a lack of enrollment. Parents are leaving those neighborhoods when they do not get accepted to the school. There is a lottery and some benefit while others do not. If you don’t get in, you can leave the neighborhood or go to the local public schools which are under capacity and not supported by the community as a whole. On top of all of this, I have heard from parents that there is a focus on test taking.
I hope this Dude does not support a charter system in Decatur.
CSD already is a charter system.
Thanks for the clarification! I must be confused then – my point is that I wouldn’t want the Drew Charter School model – whatever that is called – in Decatur. That’s what got me worried… PARTICULARLY A LOTTERY SYSTEM. DecaturWalker states “Charter School System” and not Charter District.
Charter schools are not the same thing as charter systems.
And DecWalker was talking about Charter Schools – see the beginning of this thread – that’s why i voiced concerns. I do not support charter schools and I listed some complaints about one that I am familiar with.
What an unfortunate last name.
Johnny Cash would approve?
And he said: “Son, this world is rough
And if a man’s gonna make it, he’s gotta be tough
And I knew I wouldn’t be there to help ya along.
So I give ya that name and I said goodbye
I knew you’d have to get tough or die
And it’s the name that helped to make you strong.”
Johnny sang it, but Shel Silverstein wrote it. You ought to thank me before I die.
I think it’s just an unfortunate spelling. I have a friend who’s last name is Duty which has never been a problem or source of teasing. This is probably a good example of a name that could be changed slightly at the courthouse to benefit future generations.
CSD is already a charter DISTRICT. This means very little in regards to the charter SCHOOL movement. It’s not relevant to maker comparisons between a charter school and a charter district.
My response was to DecaturWalker saying “There is no mention in his bio of experience or support of the charter school system concept.” So if your comment is directed at my Drew comment rest assured – I was not discussing “districts.” You might have been replying do a different message though.
Charter school districts and charter systems are the same thing. But, they’re distinct from individual charter schools like Drew. I’ll spare y’all the explanation of how this all breaks down but will mention that state policymakers are aware of the confusion and recently considering changing the terminology, but that effort fell apart.
Dr. Dude is unlikely to make any big moves to dissolve CSD’s charter district status. All GA school districts had to choose between two governance systems (one choice was charter system status and the other choice was strategic waiver status) or loose considerable flexibility from restrictive state spending guidelines, ed laws, and state board rules.
Also, CSD signed a charter system contract with the state which restricts major restructuring of the governance model during the contract term. CSD’s charter system has been pretty successful, and our community and board seem to support it. They likely discussed it with him during the selection process.
Welcome Dr. Dude!
Interesting that they say Sup’t “finalist” which sounds like he is one of the ones left in the running, when actually, he’s got the job.
I believe there is a Georgia law (though I cannot quote it) that says Supe finalists must be posted for 14 days (or so) prior to a contract being signed. Area school systems have also named one finalist in advance of a job offer recently,
Correct
I would have enjoyed having 3 finalists and a community debate with Q and A and a chance for the community to comment to the Board. That’s what some jobs do. The School Board could have still made the final decision. But I imagine that might discourage the applicant pool too drastically. I would not enjoy that kind of application process. On the other hand, a superintendent has to be a good communicator and resilient…