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.)
Do we know what Ms. Rhodes does for a living? Why does Ms. Rhodes have phone access to Dr. Ackerman and I do not? Principals are forced to attend a 4 day meeting but Dr. Ackerman was too sick to make it. How would she treat one of the Principals who did not attend without a Doctor's note? I wonder how many of the 50 who attended are protected on the SD payroll by the Queen like Activist Williams?— HS- What kind of parents would support Ackerman, who is such a financial drain on the limited resources there are to educate their children? Have they lost all perspective?— farhorizons
- The only disgusting, vile pieces of trash are the racist that come onto this site everyday to post their racist comments. None of you can talk about Ackerman's actual record. It's the same old baseless accusations everyday.— MikeP
- Sunglasses indoors?— Disco Dave
- Why does Arlene Ackerman have two chauffeurs on the PSD payroll in the age of the budget crisis?— CatoTheElder
- It's really sad that people who appear to be so committed to their children's education can't see how destructive Ackerman has been. It's her actions that have caused thousands of teachers, safety officers and support staff to be laid off which will hurt schools deeply this year.
OTOH- I have to give credit to Pamela Williams for filing an ethics complaint with the state against Archie and Evans. That shows that she has at least a small clue about how corrupt this district has been. It's unfortunate that she doesn't see how Ackerman and Archie have worked together to allow one another to forward their own agendas.
Ackerman has doled out contracts and set budget priorities for 3 years with near-total compliance by the SRC. They rubber stamped everything she did and they own her misdeeds as well. Archie has close ties to a number of organizations that are involved in Ackerman's Renaissance Initiatives. She has turned a blind eye when he clearly and inappropriately interfered in school turnaround. She's savvy enough to know that what he did was illegal and an abrogation of his duties on the SRC. However, Ackerman needs people like Archie. They don't care about the schools or the children. It's all about obtaining some of that PSD funding stream for friends and allies. That allowed Ackerman the cover to pursue her own pet projects without being questioned as to their sustainability or feasibility in light of budget realities.
The bottom line is that both Ackerman and Archie were useful to one another. Unscrupulous and underhanded but useful. I can well imagine that Archie is turning on her now. She no longer can serve his interests.
— nikki1231 - exactly!!!- stealing money and selling off the school district!!! — pamg1426
- Why does a meeting of 50 people get all of this coverage? This is yet another example of why Ackerman must go. The media just loves a circus because it helps ratings! Ackerman's use of the race card to polarize the community is yet another example of Ackerman's leadership style. She race baits behind the scenes and then sits back and watches the results.— tom-104
- Inquirer reporters: In reference to the King-Evans-Archie-Mosaica-Foundations mess- "the City's Chief Integrity Office investigated the matter...the report hasn't been released". WHY NOT? Get a copy and print it!— disbud
- Where and how do you guys(gals) come up with these jokes. My co-workers can not believe that I am literally on the floor dying with laughter. Kool Aid man??? This morning is just TOO funny.— pacounselor
- The people are cheering ms Rhodes but the floor under her is screaming.— swiftlyons
- It is funny that everyone blames NCLB, when 100% was clearly meant to be an inspiration. It was up to the State to set that minimum standard. It is in fact the State and District that make the punitive measures so that they can keep THE MONEY. PSD IS CORRUPT. The District gets an OBSCENE amount of money from Title I/NCLB (each school, a MINIMUM of $120,000, with most getting more depending on enrollment). They have spent it on posturing, meaningless Title I offices & positions, such incredibly lame, "Instructional Reform Facilitator", "Parent Ombudsman", "School Advisory Council". Take more than a passing look, and there are problems with all of these. The bottom line is THE CHILDREN AREN'T GETTING THE ENRICHMENT this grant was meant for. In the end I AGREE, GET RID OF TITLE I/NCLB, because it is TOO MUCH MONEY, and seen as WELFARE. BALANCE OUR FEDERAL BUDGET!— educat
Comment removed.- The African Daughters of Fine Lineage,Why do you hold meetings at a Free,Tax dollar paid City Recreation Center and not a Restaurant like Arlene goes to.After all , You are of Fine African Lineage.
— Allen15 Fan - Ha! Sorry about the wasted and stolen money. And all the kids who will lose out. But you have to admit this crazy show is hilarious! More photos and quotes by the Daughters, please!!— maude
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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