During its recent monthly meeting Decatur’s school board awarded Superintendent David Dude his 2019-20 bonus of $20,000. Immediately after the vote Dude announced he was donating the entire amount to the school nutrition and custodial staff who have prepared and served food to students since mid March, when City Schools of Decatur closed all buildings for COVID-19.
In a statement given to the AJC Dude said, “My success is directly tied to the amazing colleagues I work with throughout the district.
“I wanted to share my good fortune with those who have most directly been serving our students through our student nutrition program,” he added … “While others could work virtually, the work done by these staff [members] can only be done in person. I am very proud of the work they have done. These additional funds will approximately double the amount they are paid during this period of online learning.”
The money goes to 66 staffers based on hours worked since March 13. Here’s the breakdown:
$700 to those working 50 to 60 total hours (2 employees); $600 to those working 40 to 49 hours (1); $400 to those working 30 to 39 hours (14); $300 to those working 20 to 29 hours (32); $200 to those working 10 to 19 hours (11); $100 for under 10 hours (6).
According to a chart provided by CSD, the district has served an average of roughly 25 meals (breakfast and lunch) daily for take out from Decatur High the last two months. This continues through the end of this week when the school year wraps for students. Decatur doesn’t offer a summer lunch program.
Dude, the district’s 10th superintendent since 1902 is in the middle year of his second consecutive three-year contract (he started Nov. 2015). His current contract pays a base salary of $209,000 through June 30, then $219,000 for 2020-21 (July 1 through June 30). This time next year he is again eligible for a $20,000 bonus.
A statement given to the AJC and credited to the board says in part that Dude’s “handling of the changes due to COVID, the management of the district staff as well as COVID communication have been stellar. The board did not ask David to redistribute his bonus to the front-line staff. This was entirely his initiative. It was incredibly generous of him, and this generosity is one thing that makes him such a great leader. We are fortunate to have him and intend to keep him.”
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