The Bellevue School Board has appointed Dr. Ivan Duran as its next superintendent, ending a month-long search across the country. He will join the school district this summer.

On Monday, March 13, the board voted unanimously to Duran. The next step in the process is to finalize an employment contract between the board and Duran. The board will provide an update at its next board meeting on March 21.

Duran is leaving his job as deputy superintendent of the Dallas Independent School District in Texas. That district serves more than 160,000 students and Druan manages more than 500 staff members and a budget of more than $50 million. Before Dallas, he was instructional superintendent and assistant superintendent for Denver Public Schools.

Duran was one of three finalists for the position, along with Dr. Joel Boyd and Dr. A. Katrise Perera. According to a board press release, Duran stood out to the boardmembers during two public forums last week.

Current Superintendent Tim Mills announced last August that he was planning to retire at the end of the next school year.

Mills had reportedly received an offer for another three-year contract from the school board, at which point he informed them of his intention to retire.

Mills was sworn in as superintendent in July 2012. He took the reins from Amalia Cudeiro, who served at the Bellevue School District superintendent from 2009-2012.

“We want to acknowledge our gratitude for our current and soon to be retiring superintendent, Dr. Tim Mills,” read a board press release. “Dr. Mills has taken great care of our students and community during his exceptional tenure here over the last five years. He has provided a strong foundation for us to build on together with Dr. Duran.”