Jan. 18: BESE Approves Appointment of New RSD Superintendent
1/20/2012 12:00:00 AM
Patrick Dobard, long-time educator and New Orleans native, will lead the special district.
The Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE) has approved the appointment of Patrick Dobard as superintendent of the Recovery School District (RSD). Dobard, a career educator and New Orleans native, is transitioning into the role from his position as Deputy Superintendent of Community and Policy for the RSD.
Replacing John White, the newly appointed state superintendent, Dobard is fully invested in the fulfillment of the 12 commitments that were announced earlier this year to get every student in New Orleans on track to graduate from college or attain a professional career.
“Regardless of the change in administration, I still hold the same core beliefs and principles that we must do whatever it takes to ensure the success of students in New Orleans,” Dobard said. “We have listened to parents and members of the community and we are focused on delivering on the promises and commitments we made to provide better opportunities for the students in this city. I’m looking forward to accomplishing the goals we have set.”
To date, the District has successfully completed seven of the 12 commitments outlined in What Will It Take? Those commitments include:
- Commitment 2 - Implementing a new monitoring process for New Orleans charter schools.
- Commitment 3 - Employing clear, strong accountability for both direct-run schools and charter schools starting in fall 2011.
- Commitment 6 - Developing a city-wide, public school enrollment system for direct-run and charter schools starting in 2012.
- Commitment 8 - Making it easier for parents and community members to get information, get questions answered and get issues resolved.
- Commitment 9 - Making critical decisions regarding school transformations, school locations, building usage, and school closures through public processes and public input.
- Commitment 10 - Identifying long-term school building assignments for all schools by the end of the 2011 calendar year.
- Commitment 11 - Development of a Facilities Master Plan that will serve all New Orleans public school children in a new, renovated or refurbished facility.
In the next 30 days, the RSD is set to finalize two additional commitments with the release of its annual equity report, and the establishment of a diverse set of high school pathways.
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