SRC chair faces conflict-of-interest questions
by thenotebook on Apr 19 2011 Posted in Latest news
Robert L. Archie presides over Philadelphia's School Reform Commission.
by Bill Hangley, Jr.
[UPDATED 10:20 pm] Just over a month ago, the chairman of the Philadelphia School Reform Commission took part in a pivotal closed-door meeting to discuss the fate of a charter school deal potentially worth $60 million, only hours after publicly recusing himself from voting on the matter due to a conflict of interest.
SRC Chairman Robert L. Archie has confirmed his participation in a statement to NewsWorks and the Public School Notebook.
The meeting was held on the evening of March 16 at School District of Philadelphia headquarters, and included Archie, State Rep. Dwight Evans, and John Q. Porter of Mosaica Education, an Atlanta-based, for-profit school operator.
Earlier that day, Archie’s fellow commissioners had voted 3-0 to award Mosaica the right to negotiate the charter to run Martin Luther King High in Germantown. Archie didn’t vote, citing his law firm’s ties to another applicant for the charter. Porter described himself that afternoon as “ecstatic” about the vote.
But the day after the three men met, Mosaica walked away from the King deal.
Porter explained the reversal at the time by saying that he did not want to interfere with Evans’ plans for his community. He also said that his company “did not believe that without full support we could be successful.”
Mosaica’s abrupt about-face left Foundations Inc., a New Jersey-based nonprofit with ties to both Archie and Evans, as the only bidder for the King charter. King is being transformed as part of Superintendent Arlene Ackerman’s signature Renaissance Schools initiative.
Ackerman has acknowledged that Porter came to her “deeply troubled” about the turn of events.
Zack Stalberg, chair of the Committee of Seventy, a watchdog group, called Archie’s action “highly improper."
The chair of a volunteer panel at King advising the District on the school’s turnaround plan said the group wants a full investigation into Archie’s behavior.
Archie has publicly acknowledged that the law firm where he is a partner, Duane Morris LLP, represents Foundations. (Archie has also recused himself from decisions involving Universal Companies, a charter provider slated to run Audenried High and Vare Middle School, for similar reasons.)
Evans also has deep connections to Foundations, which has for decades been his preferred partner for education projects of all kinds in and around his West Oak Lane district. For the past eight years, Foundations has been managing King under contract with the District.
In addition, Archie and Evans have a longstanding personal relationship. Evans has referred to Archie in press reports as a friend for more than two decades, and Archie has been a frequent donor to Evans’ political campaigns, as have many Foundations executives.
King’s charter, initially for five years, is estimated to be worth approximately $12 million dollars a year to its manager. The charter could potentially extend indefinitely.
The future of King, a neighborhood high school located just outside the borders of Evans’ 203rd District, is now back in the hands of the SRC. At a vote scheduled for April 27, the board will choose between either granting the King charter to Foundations or leaving the school and its 1,000 students under District management.
Archie’s statement indicates that he was present at the meeting with Evans and Porter in his official capacity as SRC chair, in order to “facilitate collaboration among Mosaica, Representative Evans, and the District.”
The email was his first public comment on the situation at King since Mosaica’s sudden withdrawal, despite multiple requests.
Archie also said that “no other members of the SRC had additional contact with Mosaica prior to their withdrawal.”
Archie was appointed to the SRC in 2009 by Mayor Michael Nutter and was named chair of the body by then-Gov. Ed Rendell.
Neither Archie nor the other commissioners responded to a request for additional comment.
Stalberg of the Committee of Seventy, based in Center City, said Archie’s conduct merits an immediate explanation.
“The first responsibility is for Archie to make himself fully available to answer questions about what recusal means to him, what he said and did in the meeting, and what he thought the representative of Mosaica believed about his participation,” Stalberg said.
Stalberg says he believes Archie's presence at the meeting will likely trigger the interest of state and federal investigators.
“The first questions will be the tough questions: was anything illegal done here?” Stalberg said. “There’s no conceivable argument that I can think of that justifies his presence. There are other people on the SRC, if an SRC voice was needed in that conversation. By involving himself, he has clearly undermined the process, and he clearly undermined the superintendent.”
At King, the head of a volunteer panel charged by the District with monitoring the school’s Renaissance transition said the group is “deeply troubled” and wants a full investigation. During the months-long Renaissance process, the panel, called a School Advisory Council or SAC, was asked to evaluate both Mosaica and Foundations’ proposals, along with feedback from parent and students, and choose a preferred provider. In a District-sanctioned vote in late March, the panel supported Mosaica over Foundations by 8-1, a result that led to a similar recommendation by Ackerman and ultimately to the SRC’s March 16 decision.
Conchevia Washington, chair of the King SAC, said in a statement that “we don't believe that [Archie] was representing his position as SRC chair by being in that room.”
While the cast of participants in the pivotal March 16 meeting is now known, the details of what was said remain unclear. Evans has said he made a strong argument in favor of his own plans, telling Porter that his network of educational institutions, in which Foundations plays a key role, shouldn’t be disturbed. He has said he did not exert any undue pressure on Porter.
Evans’ role influencing Mosaica’s decision has been known since first being reported by NewsWorks and the Notebook on March 17, when he suggested that his intervention had been decisive. “I had a very sound strategy and plan,” he said at the time. “And I believe I made a very convincing argument.”
Mosaica’s Porter has acknowledged being present in the room with both Evans and Archie, but declined to discuss details, other than to say that Ackerman was not involved.
“I don’t want to stand in the way of Rep. Evans and what he’s trying to do in that community,” said Porter recently. “I want to focus on Birney [Elementary],” a North Philadelphia school whose charter Mosaica also won during the Renaissance process. Porter has told the King SAC that Mosaica would be willing to return to King as long as it had the full support of the community.
Ackerman has called Mosaica’s withdrawal “tragic,” but has said that she would not oppose Foundations if the SRC chooses to award it King’s charter. She has also said that she “knew there was a problem” involving Mosaica after the SRC approved its bid, but that she didn’t know the details.
Ackerman elaborated on that position in a statement Tuesday. In an email, District spokesperson Jamilah Fraser wrote that on March 16, “a confused and deeply troubled John Porter reached out to Dr. Ackerman to express his hesitation in a off-the -record conversation. During that conversation Dr. Ackerman told Mr. Porter that the District, the SAC and the SRC were in full support of the match [between Mosaica and King].” Fraser said Porter did not provide Ackerman with explicit details about the problem.
Stalberg believes Archie’s presence in the March 16 meeting will trigger not only questions about the King charter, but about the politically appointed board that oversees the $3.2 billion dollar district and its nearly 200,000 public and charter school students. “I think there’s a good chance that this will fire up the question of who is the SRC, and why is the state running our schools anyway?” Stalberg said. “The incident and the larger question may be totally different things.”
Stalberg, who edited the Philadelphia Daily News for three decades, said the story of Archie and Evans’ closed-door meeting is unlike anything he’s heard in recent years.
“Philadelphians believe that this kind of activity goes on frequently,” Stalberg said. “But to tell you the truth, I can’t think of a situation in which it’s actually been documented. So in terms of proving what we all believe, it’s been a long time since there’s been a situation like this.”
Editor's note: In the original version of this story, Zack Stalberg was said to suggest that Archie's actions were "potentially illegal;" in fact, Stalberg meant only to indicate that the first question that investigators will consider is whether or not those actions are illegal. NewsWorks and the Public School Notebook regret the error.
This story is the product of a news-gathering partnership between NewsWorks and the Philadelphia Public School Notebook.
Comments (44)
Submitted by lcr3002 (not verified) on Tue, 04/19/2011 - 18:55.
Wow, the end of the SRC might be in sight? Potentially....
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 04/19/2011 - 21:27.
Why would it be the end to the SRC? Stories have been posted on the notebook for a least a year, and most likely longer, detailing the "shady" inner workings of the SRC and nothing has come of them...until a major newspaper (Inquirer, Daily News, etc.) breaks a story that people besides teachers read, nothing will ever happen...
Submitted by Helen Gym on Tue, 04/19/2011 - 18:55.
This is an extremely important story. Kudos to the Notebook team for all the work.
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 04/19/2011 - 19:30.
Public servants should not be insulated from the public or conduct all their business behind closed, locked, sealled doors. Time to re-think SRC and return to local control so we can hold the Mayor or elected Board members accountable for their actions.
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 04/19/2011 - 20:06.
The mayor appointed Archie. How is this anything other than a local issue. What's stopping everyone from holding him and Archie accountable?
Going back to an elected board will only give more power and control to these goons. I hear a lot of complaining here about the district not being locally controlled. Are you insane? Evans, Archie, Ackerman and Nutter are the problem. How can you blame Harrisburg for this?
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 04/19/2011 - 19:42.
The plot thickens,the waters get more muddied and the sh#! is about to hit the fan.
It is about time!!
Enough of this insanity.
Submitted by Teacher (K.R. Luebbert) (not verified) on Tue, 04/19/2011 - 19:44.
Many of these people on the SRC seem to forget they are public servants--all their activities should be open and transparent. And, we are still waiting to hear from Mayor Nutter on all this....strangely silent.
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 04/20/2011 - 21:51.
Nutter isn't strangely silent. He is always silent about antics of the Queen and her cronies. I believe Nutter is honest but totally out of his league with the Queen et al
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 04/21/2011 - 11:54.
Nutter is too worried about pleasing "Mommy" to do anything about Ackerman's antics. He needs to go along with her.
Submitted by Erika Owens on Thu, 04/21/2011 - 19:21.
NewsWorks has word from Mayor Nutter: he wants to talk to Archie about this.
Submitted by Veteran of the WPHS Renaissance (not verified) on Tue, 04/19/2011 - 19:53.
As disturbing is the story about Archie's involvement and potential conflict of interest, is this statement in the story:
"King’s charter, initially for five years, is estimated to be worth approximately $12 million dollars a year to its manager. The charter could potentially extend indefinitely."
INDEFINITELY? Is there no performance contract? Is this just handing over a public institution to a private entity for good with no recourse for the public? Is that what's going on here? In a district as broke as this, it gives $12 million dollar contracts with no public oversight, no time designation? Of course we can't depend on a body like the SRC for that either, it seems.
Submitted by Bill Hangley (not verified) on Tue, 04/19/2011 - 21:28.
"Could last indefinitely" means that if the school does well, the district will leave it in the charter's hands. The District's official position is, I believe, that the Renaissance charters are for five years with an option to remove the operator after two years if the school doesn't meet certain standards. But the presumption all along is that if the charters work, they stay for good.
Submitted by Bill Hangley (not verified) on Tue, 04/19/2011 - 21:31.
That means that as long as the school does well, the district will leave it in the charter's hands. The district has said that the five-year deals include an option to revoke after two years, if the school fails to meet certain standards. But the goal would be to leave the school in the charter's hands forever if they work - the goal is definitely NOT to let them be charters for awhile and then someday bring them back to District control.
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 04/19/2011 - 20:17.
And how about the fact that Archie's law firm is representing Ackerman regarding her owing over 120,000 in back taxes??? They are STICKING it to the entire city and they knew they "couldn't be touched." Problem is, they really aren't that smart and they continue to get caught in lie after lie. What overpriced PR firm or new Shawna Kemp is going to spin the cycle on this one? Paid for by you, me and the rest of Pennsylvania.
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 04/19/2011 - 20:46.
I want to see the invoices which shows that Ackerman paid for the services of Archie's firm! I have a feeling there is a whole lot of quid pro quo going on
Submitted by Philly Parent and TEacher (not verified) on Tue, 04/19/2011 - 20:46.
Archie also is very tied to Gamble/Universal. I'm sure that relationship helped Universal get so many schools since Universal's track record is no reason for them to run any schools.
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 04/19/2011 - 20:51.
And Archie has connections to Carl Green as well. It all stinks!!
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 04/19/2011 - 20:54.
And thats what happens when you allow cooporations have public funds to run schools, lots of illegalities, no unions, no real student centerd programs. Foundations had a chance at King, Pastorious and other schools, what do you have a pure dee mess look at the data for these schools. And the school security is also a mess, again no union, they don't want to pay them anything. What do you have, students running the halls. just visit Pastorious you will be awwwwed at how Foundations is managing that school. Glad the Notebook is letting people know what happens when you allow cooporations run schools with public money.
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 04/19/2011 - 22:06.
Archie, The Queen, John Q.Porter, Dwight Evans, Kenny Gamble----PLEASE---end this charade now. Charters don't work any better than regular public schools and oftentimes, much worse. They hide their dirty laundry which, of course, is by design, starting with the Pols who awarded them in the first place. The Public Schools are shot to hell as the Republicans are trying to burst the unions so the Dems will NEVER win another election. I STILL contend that sooner or later, the "Folks" will have had enough of Charters and all the corruption centering around them. Hopefully, by that time, the schools will again rise from the ashes.
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 04/19/2011 - 22:29.
It is very amusing, given our nation's love of slavery, that the one operator that has slid under the door has the gall to call itself Mastery.
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 04/19/2011 - 22:33.
Look, politics as usual is what's going on here EXCEPT that NEVER have schools been targeted by corporations as a way to break teacher unions to destroy the dems. This is disgraceful, an abomination, a mean spirited approach for political gain. By the way, the Dems would not resort to such a horrible strategy. The Koch Bros. are giggling as we are doing their pernicious work for them. Check with charter teachers who are routinely overworked, underpaid and given NO POWER at any level. Just a disgusting situation !!
Submitted by Phantom Poster (not verified) on Tue, 04/19/2011 - 22:52.
Let's see - the SRC was created almost a decade ago to get the school district out of a sixty-million dollar hole. Now sixty-million dollars barely buys you a sweetheart deal for one school for five years. The absence of detached,ethical leadership and silence while public education is being sold to the highest bidder, is deplorable.
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 04/19/2011 - 23:15.
Phantom Poster----------------------------------------------Wonderful Post !!!!!!!
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 04/19/2011 - 23:36.
Good work, Ponytail!
Submitted by Bill Hangley (not verified) on Wed, 04/20/2011 - 00:22.
My pleasure.
Submitted by MLK SAC Member (not verified) on Wed, 04/20/2011 - 08:55.
Well, well, well! The time has come for the "Empire" to fall. I would be curious to see the By-Laws for the the SRC as it references "the need to attend such meetings" and then question Archie as to why he never made himself available for any other meetings.
How convenient is it that Evans has such a strong hold on the political climate in this city that the SAC can't even get the support of the Rep. Myers (BTW...King is in Myers district and not Evans)!
Although I am concerned about the turn of events surrounding the request for Dr. Ackerman's resignation, I more concerned that the flood gates for political support were opened, yet, not one politician has stepped forward to express support of what we have been faced with.
So when does the financial well run dry and the moral well fill up with doing what's right for the children (somehow we continue to get away from that). I will definitely need to take a close look at who I will support in this election, because I am tired of my hard earned money filling the pockets of deadbeat policy makers and I am tired of funds that have been earmarked for education continuously being stamped INSUFFICIENT FUNDS!
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 04/20/2011 - 21:59.
As long as Charters are viable sources for abuse and corruption, your money will remain in their pockets. They won't even thank you for your donation to their collective well being.
Submitted by Tara (not verified) on Mon, 04/25/2011 - 21:43.
So true - In all of this mess, no one discusses what is best for students. I only hope this encourages more parents to get involved in their child's school and look closely at politicians who claim to know what's best for communities and schools.
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 04/20/2011 - 10:06.
So let me get this straight......The children of King have the following options: (1) stay a district school which has failed them since they became students (2) become a charter managed by Mosaica, which is a for-profit company that used to hire Arlene Ackerman as a consultant and whose son works for Mosaica or (3) become a charter managed by Foundations, which has no track record actually running a school completely and has ties Evans and Archie. Sheesh, talk about being between a rock and a hard place.
Submitted by Philly Parent and TEacher (not verified) on Wed, 04/20/2011 - 10:08.
Doesn't Ackerman's son's employment with Mosaica also give her a conflict of interest? I know networking is "in" but this is ridiculous.
Submitted by Bill Hangley (not verified) on Fri, 04/22/2011 - 16:23.
FYI I checked up a bit on that. I haven't asked Ackerman yet but I did ask Porter, who says that he's never heard of her son being in Mosaica ("it's a big company" he said, noting that it's not impossible, but he's not aware of it).
Porter acknowledges that he knows Ackerman from their time together at the Broad Center in Oakland, and considers her a friend in a professional context (i.e. they see each other at conferences, are collegial and friendly, don't talk on a regular basis or share a deep personal bond), but said that Ackerman, to his knowledge, has no personal stake in Mosaica's winning a contract, and didn't do anything that he knows of to give Mosaica a leg up during the process.
Submitted by Teachmyway (not verified) on Wed, 04/20/2011 - 15:54.
I am a product of M L King class of 1984 we performed well in academics, sports and even jazz remember pieces of a dream it was years later when children began to move in the area with out good parental support that the school started to fail and foundations just sealed that failure thank you very much!!
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 04/20/2011 - 16:22.
People do not understand the extent to which many schools have been set up to fail. I'm not saying it is a conspiracy, because a lot of this began before NCLB and privatization. I taught at a large school in North Philly and there were so many arbitrary changes in leadership that nothing productive could get established. Leadership within the building was determined strictly by cronyism - largely based on fraternity and sorority affiliations. People without imagination were empowered to make significant decisions. This is one reason why it seems so farfetched to claim that the SDP can create "personalized" high schools with 1,200 kids as a replacement for highly effective small schools. The people who will make these decisions definitely lack imagination. They only care about SWBAT, Do Now, Exit Ticket and every other form of mindless conformity that they can think of.
If Archie, Evans, Ackerman and Porter want to play football with a school, at least have the decency to rename it George W Bush Academy at Mastery.
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 04/20/2011 - 16:46.
Evans' sense of entitlement will hopefully be his downfall. How dare he say that he didn't want the school community in a school (SAC, parents, etc) to interfere with HIS plans for it! These people are so intertwined and interconnected in a sinister way.
THIS is why elected officials have term limits! The SRC has run its course. The state takeover is not benefiting us, especially not in a city as corrupt as this. The watchdogs and regulators, with the exception of the Committee of Seventy, are asleep at the wheel.
Any day now we will be reading about cover-up schemes and expensive luggage gifts. And then the SRC panel will slink back into the shadows until they can become executives in Universal Inc and Foundations.
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 04/20/2011 - 17:04.
The Queen and Archie and Porter and Gamble and Evans---Are you kidding me???? The worst part is they have given SCHOOLS to these fools !!!! Schools with kids who will benefit nothing from their stay there. Just a farce for all to see and laugh at. Corbett and his cronies couldn't ask for a better gift than Ackerman et al.; Under the pretext of helping kids, he will further destroy the unions and the inner cities and therefore the Democratic Party. There better be no God !!
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 04/21/2011 - 13:24.
I fully agree. He's just a joke at least where the Queen is concerned. I believe him to be honest but as you suggest, he does seem to have a "Mommy" complex where Ackerman is concerned--Very Disturbing because his silence is tacit approval of her abusive ways. I can't vote for Milton Street but I wish someone else were running for Mayor against Nutter. He's embarrassing and makes the city look worse than ever and that's not easy to do.
Submitted by Erika Owens on Thu, 04/21/2011 - 19:23.
FYI: Jo Ann Allen of WHYY spoke with reporter Bill Hangley, Jr. about this story this morning.
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 04/22/2011 - 13:00.
Daily News-----4-22-11-----------------The cat in out of the bag big time. EVERYBODY can see the truth and always have. Farcical Behavior and we're soon to be called Detroit. These clown all need to march into JAIL. To hear John Q. Porter, Mosaica, cay that he's saddened for the kids--makes you sick !!!!! Porter was chased out of Oklahoma City for misuse of funds big time---Just a liar, a carpetbagger and by the way, a good friend of Ackerman from back in the day. Kenny Gamble-----Are you kidding me????????????????? Ask anybody in Point Breeze what they think of him and his "Mission." Happy The Clown should take over Philly. Oh!!, I forgot, he's the Mayor for crying out loud.
A MORATORIUM ON ALL CHARTER GIVEAWAYS SHOULD BE ENACTED IMMEDIATELY AND ALL OF THESE SCAMS NEED TO BE INVESTIGATED BY THE FEDS, NOT THE CRONIES OF THE QUEEN ETC. OF COURSE, CORBETT LOVES ALL THIS CORRUPTION. HE'LL USE IT AS A PRETEXT TO RUIN EVERYTHING THE QUEEN AND HER BUDDIES HAVEN'T GOT TO YET.
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 04/22/2011 - 17:27.
C'mon people let's get serious. I know we are all fans of beating a dead horse and crying about the downfall of Philadelphia because of cronyism and the takeover of charter schools but really???
Are you really suggesting that things have all of a sudden gotten this way. The person a few comments ago said it best, the school district lacks imagine and anytime a young, vibrant forward thinking steps up they get smacked down and told to pay your dues until its your time. By the time their time comes, they've already moved onto another district to makes innovative changes.
This district has been failing kids since my parents, my siblings, myself, but I pray to God that not for my child in the coming years. The problem in Philadelphia is not Ackerman alone or the politicians...its us. How many people that have said on here how terrible schools are and how saddened they are about what is happening have actually gone to the schools the help. To the best of my knowledge no one has ever barred parents and volunteers from schools attempting to be mentors or tutors to kids. Or has said no to anyone that wanted to do fundraising to buy better books or supplies for kids (I know, I know.....why should you pay for books when you already pay taxes that should've bought books), I get it, why should you have to do more? Because if you don't then this what we are left with.
I see how people fight tooth and nail to try to get ahead or get the last dollar. People waking up at 3 in the morning on black friday to get toys and crap, running to karls to get Easter outfits but God forbid there be a report card conference with more than 5% of parents showing up. Or better yet people showing up to the polls. We all want change....don't talk about it on here go to the polls in a few weeks, go to King on Monday and help out. Do something that matters, get informed and take action.
Sorry for the rant, just my 2 cents....take for what it's worth.
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 04/23/2011 - 08:36.
I totally agree with you, until people's attitudes in this city towards education change, the status quo will conitnue. Parents must take a more active role in their child's education. Don't trust that the public school will prepare your children. As a parent, I got invovled, went to every report card conference, talked with my children's teachers and joind the home and school. As a result, all of my children are now matriculating in college. All this was achieved even as we worked full time jobs. It can be done, parents have to adopt the following philosophy: Put Your Chidren First. Everything you do is for your kids first, you a distant second. Another part of this philosophy is you are raising your grand children, not just your children.
Submitted by youngphillyteacher (not verified) on Sat, 04/23/2011 - 09:35.
Parents you are talking about, the ones who can afford to volunteer and donate, don't send their kids to public schools. Anyone can say, why? Can it be anything but plain old racism and bigotry? My new young state rep who attended Cardinal Dougherty says in an interview to Inky: "I won't be where I am now, if I went to Olney High". What makes all white catholic boys school so special?
Same guy, promised to "protect the neighborhood" (from whom?), and don't let it become like the neighborhood next to us (which recently has become populated by minorities). The rep. before him, who was also famous for "protecting the neighborhood" went down with 82 counts of corruption, but got about 45% of the vote even after his indictment. His corruption was obvious to anyone willing to see, even before the indictments, but white middle and working class people of his district didn't care. Why?
Maybe, being relatively new to here, I don't understand something, but it seems like racism is the biggest elephant in the city of Philadelphia, root of many, many problems. Correct me if I am wrong.
Submitted by Sanity N. Reason (not verified) on Mon, 04/25/2011 - 19:45.
It is not the notion of THE SRC that is wrong, it's the political hacks that are selected to sit on the commission. What imbecile put Archie there? He should resign immediately. I think that people who have publicly demonstrated concern for children should be sitting on that board. NOT Ackerman rubber-stamps.
For starters, I suggest that all of us bloggers band together for an unrelenting grass-roots champagne to draft the courageously outspoken Audenreid High School English teacher Hope Moffett to replace Robert Archie on The SRC. This will serve as notice to The Queen that the charade is over and it's time to start packing. She is locked up in a contract now and will likely stand to obscenely collect all sort of remaining salary and built in early exit fees. So rather than waste money, I say that the SRC be reformed with Hope Moffett in charge and other members be either replaced or reprogrammed to a new way of thinking. This move will be so insulting to Ackerman that she would likely resign. If not, she will be the lamest of lame ducks and we, the taxpayers, will force her to work - for once - until her contract is expired. The SRC will have a backbone -at last- and simply demand it. Then when the clock strikes midnight on the contract, we will simply kick the Queen to the curb and move-on to better times. What poetic justice it would be to see Moffett presiding over Ackerman's exit. I urge all bloggers to spread this word and make it happen.
Submitted by Tom Bishop (not verified) on Mon, 04/25/2011 - 21:06.
I disagree with you statement that: "It is not the notion of THE SRC that is wrong."
That is precisely what is wrong. We are not some colony that the more "civilized" in the state of Pennsylvania must occupy and manage. The parents and educators of Philadelphia can run the schools just fine if the state would get out of our business and let us provide OUR kids with a future. If we received equitable funding from the state and federal government, equal per student to what schools in wealthy districts of the state receive, it would go a long way to solving our problems.
Instead Corbett is cutting the School District funding 25% in his proposed budget when we are only 10% of the state’s education budget. This means the inequity that we have been living with for decades will get even worse.
And these are the people you want controlling our schools through the SRC?
Submitted by phillysbest (not verified) on Thu, 04/28/2011 - 01:06.
Johnny Irizarry has also been linked to the charter school movement.
From the Philadelphia Inquirer 3/2009:
Mr. Irizarry has served as an educator in various community-based charter schools and has
worked at the School District of Philadelphia as Program Specialist for Puerto Rican and Latino
Studies. Prior to joining the School District in 1997 he served as Executive Director of Taller
Puertorriqueno for twelve years.
http://www.phila.k12.pa.us/announcements/SRC_March09.pdf
We are being railroaded by a bunch of carpetbagging bullies.
Our children and our democracy are suffering.
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