Ackerman ups her furlough to 20 days
by Erika Owens on Feb 15 2011 Posted in Latest news
Superintendent Arlene Ackerman will take 20 furlough days, rather than 10 as previously announced, according to a District press release. The furlough is part of Phase I of the District's plan for dealing with a budget shortfall expected to exceed $400 million.
The Tuesday press release says Ackerman opted to take 20 furlough days "in [an] even more aggressive budget saving measure."
Ackerman will continue to work through the furlough, which is effective immediately, with the unpaid days to be spread over the remainder of this school year and next.
The superintendent's furlough will save the District nearly $31,000 in salary and benefits spread over about 16 months. The unpaid time constitutes a pay reduction of about 6 percent for the superintendent. Ackerman's annual salary is $348,140, after receiving a contractually mandated raise of 3 percent - or $10,140 - last September 1.
The number of furlough days for executive staff will remain the same: Deputy Superintendent Nunery will take 10 days and other executive staff will take eight days. Non-represented staff earning $100,000 or more will have six-day furloughs.
District spokesperson Shana Kemp explained in an email that executive staff members will not be required to work on their furlough days; "however, if an employee opts to volunteer their services in light of these economic difficulties, the District welcomes this professional sacrifice."
By way of comparison, when the city budget crisis hit, Mayor Nutter took a 10 percent cut in his $186,000 salary in January 2009, and his top aides took cuts of 3.5 to 5 percent. More recently, members of the mayor's staff have been subject to both salary reductions and furlough days.
UPDATE: The Daily News reports that Ackerman will also defer her $100,000 retention bonus "until the budget picture becomes more clear," said spokesperson Shana Kemp. The announcement came after Mayor Nutter told the Daily News, "Given the economic situation in general and specifically to the school district . . . I don't think bonuses are appropriate at this time."
UPDATE: Here's the District press release about Ackerman deferring her bonus. It says, "Superintendent Ackerman understands the perilous position that the District is in as officials work to lessen the blow of a looming budget shortfall and decided that, as leader, she would start with reducing her own salary."
It also notes that like Ackerman Deputy Superintendent Nunery will work during his furlough.
Comments (7)
Submitted by Marvin K. Mooney (not verified) on Tue, 02/15/2011 - 21:29.
Her salary should be cut by 50%. Then she would look serious. How about eliminating the security detail and personal driver/car (supplied by the district)
Submitted by Speechless (not verified) on Tue, 02/15/2011 - 22:29.
The SDP should be audited. Taxpayers have a right to know how every penny of THEIR MONEY was spent in this district. Wasn't the city comptroller supposed to be keeping an eye on this cookie jar? or was it the state comptroller? Its funny, in 2000 the district was $144 million in debt and the state took over the district to provide financial oversight. Now 11years later the state has allowed the district to be $500 million in debt. I guess that was the kind of oversight we citizens of Philadelphia needed.
Every citizen in Philadelphia should be outraged by this fiasco. Where did our money go???? How was the stimulus money spent? Call your council person and demand answers. Remember folks this is an ELECTION YEAR!!! Put on the pressure. We have every right to demand answers!!!
What cronies have been paid off??? I would love it if the feds did a real investigation and actually bring charges. I just don't see how the former member of Universal community homes( Bob Archie ) could not have had any influence over the awarding of Audenreid to Universal companies. I wonder how much in kickbacks Bob Archie will get????
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 02/15/2011 - 22:42.
The more I rad about this, the more nauseous I get. This is sad and will probably mean my job
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 02/15/2011 - 22:43.
i have three words GREED GREED GREED!! Cut her salary! this is ridiculous, Ackerman doesn't care about the district or the students in it!!!
Submitted by mychildrenarenotexperiments (not verified) on Tue, 02/15/2011 - 23:55.
hey didnt my taxes help build audenried and now they are handing it over to a private company wow
Submitted by Meg (not verified) on Wed, 02/16/2011 - 08:38.
I am not impressed. This is a political stunt that is a publicity show. The days should all come into this year's budget with more for next school year. She is trying to confuse the issue and hide her huge salary. 348,000.00? how many teachers or counselors is that? anyone want to try to figure out how many building could be heated for that? This is as unreal as it gets.
As for the poster who recommended she lose her driver and security - right now she probably needs the security more than ever... I know teachers, staff, parents and students have really had enough, but I whole heartedly agree with you about the driver. How many assistants is she up to, also?
Submitted by Erika Owens on Wed, 02/16/2011 - 11:28.
FYI-I just updated this post with info from the Daily News that Ackerman is also deferring her $100,000 retention bonus.
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