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Limm

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District staff recommends closing Imani Charter

Submitted by David Limm on Mon, 05/13/2013 - 14:39 Posted in Latest news | Permalink

Imani Education Circle Charter School in Germantown may have to fight to stay open beyond the end of this school year.

According to a list of pending resolutions for the School Reform Commission's Wednesday meeting, District staff is recommending that the 14-year-old charter be closed down.

Memo suggests Rhee knew of widespread cheating in D.C.

Submitted by David Limm on Fri, 04/12/2013 - 14:50 Posted in Latest news | Permalink

A confidential memo suggests that high-profile education reformer Michelle Rhee knew of, and then ignored, evidence of widespread cheating as early as her first year as chancellor of Washington, D.C., schools.

The secret memo, written in January 2009 and obtained by PBS education reporter John Merrow, could refute Rhee's longstanding claims that she was unaware that rampant adult cheating on standardized tests was likely, despite mounting evidence to the contrary. That is, if she in fact saw the memo.

Two earlier probes into a possible cheating scandal, prompted by investigations by USA Today, found no evidence of wrongdoing, though those investigations were limited in scope.

Mayor names Knudsen city's first tax collection czar

Submitted by David Limm on Wed, 04/03/2013 - 14:37 Posted in Latest news | Permalink

With the goal of stepping up the collection of outsized delinquent taxes in Philadelphia, Mayor Nutter has named the School District's former chief recovery officer, Thomas Knudsen, to the newly created position of chief revenue collections officer.

“Tom Knudsen has demonstrated in a number of assignments – from turning around PGW [Philadelphia Gas Works] to acting as chief recovery officer at the Philadelphia School District – that he understands finance and the management of large complex organizations,” said the mayor in a statement released Wednesday.

Close Beeber? School's supporters to propose alternative plan

Submitted by David Limm on Mon, 03/18/2013 - 15:24 Posted in Latest news | Permalink

The community meeting to discuss the planned closure of Beeber Middle School will be held at 6 p.m. tomorrow, March 19, at the school. The meeting was postponed from March 6 due to a forecast of inclement weather.

The District's revised Feb. 18 closure plan announced the proposed closing of Beeber, a school serving grades 6-8. The plan says: "Students will be offered reassignment at Overbrook High School. Overbrook will expand its grade organization to become a 7-12 middle secondary school."

9 schools to undergo Renaissance overhaul

Submitted by David Limm on Fri, 02/22/2013 - 16:28 Posted in Latest news | Permalink

Nine struggling schools in Philadelphia will be remodeled as Renaissance Schools this year, the District has announced, with three of them facing conversion to charter status.

Two high schools and seven elementary schools will be transformed under the now three-year-old initiative, a signature program of former Superintendent Arlene Ackerman that seeks to turn around the District's worst-performing schools.