Philly school reorganization continues

In the latest shakeup of her administration, Philadelphia School Superintendent Arlene Ackerman has dismantled the long-held regional division of schools, redeployed top administrators, and hired a new chief public information officer.

The changes - which come a little more than a month before a new school year - include promotions and apparent demotions of central office staff, but officials say Ackerman has been directed by the School Reform Commission to make sure the moves do not increase spending.

District spokesman Fernando Gallard said officials do not believe the widespread restructuring will cause upheaval. "We feel very confident that we'll be more than ready for the school year," he said.

Even more changes will be announced before school begins in September, Gallard said.

Ackerman announced Wednesday that she was abolishing the regional superintendent positions. The district has long organized schools in geographic sectors, a practice that ends this fall.

Schools will now be grouped by elementary, middle, and high schools; the regional offices will be reconfigured as Parent and Family Resource Centers.

"The regional structure is being changed to provide coherency in the implementation of programs and resources at the elementary, middle, and high school levels," Ackerman said in a statement.

The superintendent also announced that she had hired Lisa Mastoon as chief public information officer. Mastoon, who won two Emmys for her work in local television news, will be paid $190,000. She starts Monday.

Mastoon most recently worked as a strategic communications specialist for Ceisler Media & Issue Advocacy, representing nonprofit and for-profit organizations. The firm, previously called Ceisler Jubelirer, had a contract with the district from January to June for $45,000.

Evelyn Sample-Oates, formerly chief communications officer, will remain with the district as deputy chief communications officer and executive director of PSTV52, the district's television station. Her salary, currently $180,000, will be cut, but Gallard could not say by how much.

John Frangipani, who was Ackerman's chief of school operations, has been moved to assistant superintendent of middle schools. Gallard could not say whether his salary would change.

Linda Cliatt-Wayman, who had been principal of Young Women's Leadership Academy at Rhodes High School, was promoted to assistant superintendent for high schools.

Anna Jenkins, principal of Cook-Wissahickon School, and Emmanuel Caulk, former assistant South regional superintendent, were named assistant superintendents for elementary education.

Jenkins and Caulk join Elois Dupree and Patricia Mazzuca as elementary assistant superintendents.

The four elementary, one middle, and one high school assistant superintendents will report to Penny Nixon, currently the Northwest regional superintendent.

Nixon's new title is associate superintendent of schools.

Other regional superintendents will also get new central-office jobs.

Lissa Johnson, who had overseen the Northeast region, will become deputy for talent development, in charge of instructional certification and recruitment. Gregory Shannon, formerly East regional superintendent, will be deputy for hearings and expulsions.

Michael Silverman, formerly superintendent of the high school region, is now deputy for secondary instructional programs.

Benjamin W. Rayer, who had overseen charter and Renaissance schools, resigned last week.

Since the beginning of June, Ackerman has announced other changes, including:

The appointment of Leroy Nunery as deputy superintendent. Nunery will serve as Ackerman's second-in-command with a salary of $230,000.

The appointment of Diane Castelbuono as associate superintendent of strategic programs, including charter, turnaround, and Renaissance schools. Gallard said he did not have salary information for Castelbuono, a former state education official.

.The appointments of Tomas Hanna, who had been Ackerman's chief of staff, as associate superintendent of academic supports, and David Weiner, former chief accountability officer, as associate superintendent of academics and curriculum.

Gallard said that for the time being, the officials' salaries will not change, because of the School Reform Commission's directive to Ackerman to not go over budget.

"Our goal is that the realignment of staff be budget neutral and that it accelerates learning in our schools," Gallard said. "Until the entire reorganization is complete, it would be premature - and incorrect - to assume that the realignment will add to the district's budget."