At fiery meeting, Ackerman supporters rally
A fired-up group of Arlene Ackerman supporters met in Southwest Philadelphia Tuesday night, vowing to back the superintendent as she fights to stay in Philadelphia.
At fiery meeting, Ackerman supporters rally
Kristen Graham
A fired-up group of Arlene Ackerman supporters met in Southwest Philadelphia Tuesday night, vowing to back the superintendent as she fights to stay in Philadelphia.
Activist Sacaree Rhodes led the group, which included State Rep. Ronald G. Waters (D., Phila.)
“We should stand up for her — if we stand up with her, we stand up with children,” Waters told the crowd of more than 50, who crowded into the lobby of the Kingsessing Recreation Center.
Rhodes said the group will push for all elected officials to make statements on their positions on Ackerman, whose tenure is rumored to be near an end.
She also lambasted School Reform Commission Chairman Robert L. Archie Jr., and demanded that he be ousted for his role in a deal to give Martin Luther King High School to an organization with ties to State Rep. Dwight Evans (D., Phila.)
That deal ultimately fell apart.
Archie has said he did nothing wrong. At Mayor Nutter's direction, the city's Chief Integrity Officer investigated the matter, but the report has not yet been released.
Rhodes said she had just spoken by phone with Ackerman, who did not attend work Tuesday or the meeting. But, Rhodes said, “she informed me that she’s going to work tomorrow.”
A cheer went up from the audience when they heard that news.
Rhodes called on supporters to meet at district headquarters to usher Ackerman into her office Wednesday.
No deal has been struck for Ackerman to leave, Rhodes said.
“She intends to stay here and work as long as Philadelphia needs her,” Rhodes said.
Activist Pamela Williams, a Baptist minister and school police officer, urged the crowd to keep fighting for Ackerman.
“Every day, we’ve got to beat them up,” said Williams, who is on medical leave from her school job. “Don’t listen to anybody who says, ‘She’s gone, it’s a done deal.’”
Williams said she had filed state ethics complaints Tuesday against Archie and Evans for their roles in the King deal.
(I live Tweeted the meeting - you can check it out here.)
How can anyone support this evil vile disgusting piece of trash that happens to have a pulse? Fire her already!— 420-24-7- “She intends to stay here and work as long as Philadelphia needs her,” Rhodes said
GOOD...she can leave now with no severance. We don't need her!— sueneely - “Every day, we’ve got to beat them up,” said Williams...WHAT??? How many threats and violent rhetoric is this chump allowed to spew??? Last week she threatened Philly would turn into London with protests. Where are the cities leaders???? Anyone hear Corbett when asked about Ackerman? Quite possibly the dumbest I have ever seen a PA gov. look. He got angry and answered nothing. Just like his tenure so far...— legend1
Comment removed.- Comment removed.
- You mean to tell me these people can't channel their anger into something productive for the city? She isn't even from here and these "Philadelphians" will never be forgotten for the circus they have displayed in honor of an absolute failure. Let me remind these FOOLS that one of the better Supers this city has seen was a BLACK WOMAN. I do not recall Clayton making ignorant error after ignorant error. She didn't get run out of town. Why? Because it was at least clear to the city that SHE CARED, even if she made some misjudgements. Ackerman doesn't admit a anything and she throws hard working people under the bus for her own benefit. I am sure these activists care about the city. But do they honestly think Ackerman cares about them and their children? When she is living up with the money PA has dumped on her on some island, you Philadelphia activists will disappear in her head by the second Pina Coloda!!— legend1
- Well, I'm pretty sure she'll be at Lincoln for convocation...if she comes.— Recyclebutterfly
Look like Dr Ackerman's a candidate for becoming an Honorary Sister of The African Daughters of Fine Lineage.
Talk about padding your résumé - or would it be gilding the lily?- Looks more like a Rev. Jim Jones rally. Time for this polarizing bigot to go. She leaves a bad taste in every city she's been.— dogman5
- Looks like Bingo night at the senior center to me.— CommonSense11
- The District's problems, I believe, stem from the fact that No Child Left Behind has been an "unfunded mandate" from the start. There has been great pressure, but not enough money, to make the necessary gains. The 2014 deadline has been utterly impossible to meet. Dr. Ackerman's strategy of budgeting money we didn't have didn't work. She and the SRC should have prepared us for requesting from Washington an extension of the deadline. As a teacher, I am not happy about the teacher-bashing comments I read; most teachers, I believe, care deeply about their students and their schools.— edward levenson
- The District's problems, I believe, stem from the fact that No Child Left Behind has been an "unfunded mandate" from the start. There has been great pressure, but not enough money, to make the necessary gains. The 2014 deadline has been utterly impossible to meet. Dr. Ackerman's strategy of budgeting money we didn't have didn't work. She and the SRC should have prepared us for requesting from Washington an extension of the deadline. As a teacher, I am not happy about the teacher-bashing comments I read; most teachers, I believe, care deeply about their students and their schools.— edward levenson
- Comment removed.
- Look who her supporters are, enough said.— Capsulef
During the school year, you’ll frequently find her hosting live chats about the district on Philly.com. Please do pass along the scoop about what’s going on at your Philadelphia public school; Kristen welcomes tips, story ideas and witty banter at kgraham@phillynews.com or 215-854-5146.
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