Philadelphia School Reform Commission

Philadelphia School Officials Look to Denver For Public-To-Charter Transition Tips

Mayor Nutter and members of the Philadelphia School Reform Commission are heading to Denver on Thursday for a one-day trip to compare notes on cooperation between district and charter schools.

2012/01/03

Philadelphia School District Laying Off 141 Nurses and Assistants

It’s another round of layoffs in the School District of Philadelphia, right before the holidays.

2011/12/23

(Former Philadelphia schools superintendent Arlene Ackerman. File photo)

Ackerman Says Nutter Has No Business Criticizing Her Unemployment Claim

The former Philadelphia schools chief called Mayor Nutter’s criticism of her unemployment claim “disingenuous” because, she says, the mayor and the School Reform Commission signed off on her buyout deal.

2011/12/01

School Reform Commission Has New Chairman

Pedro Ramos, a former Philadelphia school board president and city managing director, was confirmed Monday as new chairman of the SRC.

2011/11/15

City Council Wants Its Own Hearing On School Closing Proposal

The Philadelphia School District’s decision to close as many as nine schools is prompting City Council to schedule its own inquiry.

2011/11/07

Part 1: The Balkanization of Philadelphia

Think of the most important areas of public life: housing, transportation, education, tourism, budgeting. In Philadelphia, there is no direct, exclusive local control of any of these.

2011/11/04

(Former Philadelphia schools superintendent Arlene Ackerman, before she was let go earlier this year. Credit: Mike DeNardo)

Part 3: Turmoil In The Schools

It’s been ten years since the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania took control of the Philadelphia school system, but even those who initially supported the state takeover acknowledge a seemingly neverending torrent of problems.

2011/11/04

Mayor Nutter Names Novelist Lorene Cary To School Reform Commission

Cary’s novel, “The Price of a Child,” was the first “One Book, One Philadelphia” pick in 2003, and she founded Art Sanctuary 13 years ago.

2011/10/10

(L-R, at an August SRC meeting: schools superintendent Arlene Ackerman, SRC chair Robert Archie, SRC member Johnny Irizarry, and an SRC attorney. Credit: Mike DeNardo)

Mayor’s Appointees Quit Philadelphia School Reform Commission

The head of Philadelphia’s embattled School Reform Commission — attorney Robert Archie — has resigned, along with member Johnny Irizarry, and now it is up to Mayor Nutter to fill those seats.

2011/09/19

Mayor Nutter Says It’s Time To Move On From Ackerman

Mayor Nutter says it’s time to look ahead, now that the Arlene Ackerman buyout drama is over.

2011/09/09

(Mayor Michael Nutter, ousted schools superintendent Arlene Ackerman. File photos)

Nutter Sees No Conflict In Anonymous Donations Made To Buy Out Ackerman

The fact that anonymous, private donations paid for nearly half of Arlene Ackerman’s $900,000 buyout is raising questions.

2011/08/23

(L-R: Philadelphia schools superintendent Arlene Ackerman, SRC members Robert Archie and Johnny Irizarry, and SRC attorney Miles Shore. Credit: Mike DeNardo)

Philadelphia School District Cuts $18M From ‘Promise Academies,’ Ackerman’s Future Unclear

Amid rumors swirling about the future of Philadelphia schools chief Arlene Ackerman, her administration has announced deep cuts in one of her signature programs.

2011/08/03

Philadelphia School District Says It Won’t Impose Terms On Unions Just Yet

Thursday was the Philadelphia School District’s deadline for its unions to make concessions. But the district says it’s going to let that deadline slip for now.

2011/06/30

(The Philadelphia School Reform Commission, earlier this week. File photos by Mike DeNardo)

Philadelphia School District Says State Shorted It Another $35 Million

Philadelphia School District officials say it appears the latest version of the Pennsylvania state budget leaves the district with another big hole to fill.

2011/06/29

(Schools superintendent Arlene Ackerman, at today's meeting of the School Reform Commission. Photo by Mike DeNardo)

Arlene Ackerman Says She’s Not Trying To Bail Out

Philadelphia schools superintendent Arlene Ackerman calls “false” reports that she is negotiating with the School Reform Commission to buy out the remaining three years of her contract.

2011/06/27