SRC won't commit to Masch

The Philadelphia School Reform Commission hasn't yet reached a consensus to hire state budget director Michael Masch to fill a new financial-management position, the

Daily News

has learned.

Masch, who served on the old city school board and the reform commission that replaced it in 2002, has been touted by Gov. Rendell as the ideal candidate to become the district's managing director, overseeing finances and operations.

But two members on the four-member commission - James Gallagher and Martin Bednarek - said they are not prepared to create the job or to hire anyone to fill it until they have made another, more senior hire: chief executive officer.

"We're in the midst of a CEO search, and I don't think it's appropriate that we should appoint any high-level position until we get our CEO candidate in place," Bednarek said.

"I don't want to chase any candidates away who might be thinking of applying for that CEO position," he added.

Interim CEO Tom Brady has been in charge since the summer departure of Paul Vallas, who now runs New Orleans' schools.

"I will wait until we finish the CEO search," said Gallagher, "and then sit down with the SRC and the new CEO and say, 'How should we configure the district moving forward in a way that's in the best interest of the wonderful children.' "

SRC Chairwoman Sandra Dungee Glenn yesterday said she believed that Masch would be an ideal candidate to manage the district's books - sooner rather than later.

"I think it might have some advantages," she said when asked if she favored hiring Masch before hiring a CEO.

"I continue to have individual conversations with my colleagues about their feelings and thinking on this," she said.

"In my own mind, [I am] trying to develop what I believe is the best time frame to bring it forward.

"It is something that I think has a lot of merit," she said.

Denise McGregor Armbrister, the fourth commission member, declined to comment.

In response to the district's latest budget crisis, Masch issued a report last spring in which he found that the district regularly overspent its budget but that it also was in need of more funding.

"I think it's important that the CEO be found and put in place," said Chuck Ardo, Rendell's spokesman.

Ardo said Rendell's schedule has prevented him from nominating a candidate to fill the commission's lone vacancy.

"He has not moved on it at all, but he will get to it," Ardo said.

Dungee Glenn said she hoped the new member would be open to supporting Masch's appointment.

"Ultimately, if we decide to move forward, I would definitely be looking for three votes," she said, before adding that a consensus would be better.

"On this kind of issue you would want to have a united front."

Masch had left work for the day when the Daily News called seeking comment yesterday. *