District assigns coprincipal as investigation of Clymer Elementary leader continues

A Philadelphia School District troubleshooter sent to help calm West Philadelphia High School this summer was reassigned to Clymer Elementary on Monday.

A district official confirmed that LaVerne Wiley, a veteran administrator, started at the North Philadelphia elementary school on Monday.

She will help run the 420-student school indefinitely, district spokesman Fernando Gallard said.

Wiley "completed what she needed to do at West Philadelphia, and now she's going to Clymer," he said. "From Clymer, she'll go to the next school that needs support."

The move comes as district leaders continue their investigation into Clymer principal Kevin W. Parson.

Parson lives in Baltimore and commutes daily to the struggling school at 13th and Rush Streets. Until late last month, he was also conducting a campaign for political office in Maryland, and the investigation is examining whether he violated district policies during his run for office.

Sources with knowledge of his activities at the school say he has often been late or absent.

The district launched the investigation after The Inquirer raised questions about Parson's political activities and his attendance. Three top officials - deputy superintendent Leroy Nunery, associate superintendent Penny Nixon, and assistant superintendent Patricia Mazzuca - are looking into the matter.

Parson, who is paid $145,500, has denied being often late or absent, and said that his political work never interfered with his job in Philadelphia.

Gallard said Wiley, who was removed as coprincipal at West Philadelphia High, would focus on "climate and instructional support."

Parson's "attention is focused on dealing with the situation at hand," Gallard said. "If he's at a meeting" at district headquarters in Center City, "if he's trying to answer questions about the investigation, then his focus is not 100 percent on the school. We are going to make sure that there is enough support so the school can move forward."

Clymer has not met state standards for eight years in a row. Last school year, just 23 percent of students met state goals in reading, and 36 percent met them in math. Ninety-five percent of its students live in poverty.

Wiley is technically a "principal on special assignment" and will report to Parson, Gallard said. She has worked as a regional superintendent and as principal at the High School of the Future and Welsh Elementary School.

The investigation into Parson's activities is not complete, and Gallard could not say when it would be finished.