PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – This past week Philadelphia schools Superintendent Arlene Ackerman was notably missing from a School Reform Commission meeting leading to speculation that she is on her way out.

Pennsylvania State Senator Anthony Hardy Williams defends Ackerman’s record of improving test scores. He admits she has had communications problems but compares her to a successful and sometimes controversial football coach.

“She reminds me of Andy Reid. They do their best work not in public. She was hired to do one thing and that is to have our children learn.”

For councilman-at-large Jim Kenney, the problem with the Ackerman administration has been a communications issue but also an initially slow reaction to some school violence controversies.

“It has been a problem for a systemic period of time and frankly many superintendents have looked past it and not even done the security cameras etc. which has brought attention for South Philadelphia, which is a great thing but needs to be done at a lot of other schools.”

Reported By Special Contributor Larry Kane, KYW Newsradio