Ackerman set to make top-level changes

Under scrutiny in recent months for her administration's handling of violence and other issues, Philadelphia Schools Superintendent Arlene Ackerman will soon announce major changes to her senior leadership team.

Ackerman declined to detail the changes Wednesday, but confirmed that she is making moves.

Sources said they could involve two key cabinet positions: chief of staff and chief academic officer, as well as several regional superintendents.

If those positions do turn over, Ackerman would be on her fourth chief of staff and third chief academic officer since she arrived in Philadelphia.

Neither Tomas Hanna, current chief of staff, nor Pamela Brown, interim chief academic officer, returned calls seeking comment for this article.

Ackerman said she expected to announce the changes, which are not yet final, by the end of next week.

She described the changes as "constructive" and "needed."

"I've had two years to work with staff. I know what their strengths are. I'm now trying to match that expertise," said Ackerman, who became superintendent in June 2008.

Ackerman's administration has taken heat over a withdrawn proposal for changes to the city's magnet-school admissions policy, racial violence at South Philadelphia High, and the revelation that that school's former principal, LaGreta Brown, and 15 other principals do not have proper state certification.

Hanna was one of two administrators who accepted blame in March for the magnet proposal, which would have changed the selection process for the district's most popular schools to consider diversity as measured by zip code and income level. The change was ultimately killed by Ackerman, who said she didn't know her staff had taken that approach.

District spokeswoman Evelyn Sample-Oates on Wednesday characterized the imminent changes as "extremely big."

Ackerman has been meeting privately with her team to talk about a new structure, the spokeswoman said.

"We don't even know" what the changes are, Sample-Oates said. "I know there are going to be changes in regional and leadership."

Ackerman "just wants to strengthen the team here so we can do a much better job," Sample-Oates said.

A reduction in the number of regional superintendents - currently 11 - also has been under discussion.

Asked whether anyone might be brought in from outside to work in the district, Sample-Oates said she didn't know.

The changes come at a crucial time for the 163,000-student district.

As part of Ackerman's five-year plan, "Imagine 2014," 14 failing district schools will be radically restructured in the fall.

Seven schools will become charters; six will become "Promise Academies" - district schools overseen by Ackerman herself with longer school days and years and a mostly turned-over teaching force. The fate of West Philadelphia High will be announced next week.

Also next week, the School Reform Commission must adopt a budget for the 2010-11 school year. On the table is a $3.2 billion spending plan that relies heavily on federal stimulus money and state aid proposed by Gov. Rendell.