What happened at King?
Complete coverage of the Philadelphia School District by the Philadelphia Inquirer's Kristen Graham.
What happened at King?
Kristen Graham
This breaking news from my colleagues Martha Woodall and Sue Snyder: http://tinyurl.com/3nr4h7p
Essentially, Mayor Nutter has asked his chief accountability officer to investigate the Philadelphia School Reform Commission's handling of the King High School charter situation, including the roles of SRC Chair Robert L. Archie Jr. and state Rep. Dwight Evans (D., Phila.)
King was named a Renaissance school in January. It was to become a charter in September, but now that process is on hold for a year because of two providers' withdrawals from the process and questions about a private meeting.
Nutter said he wants answers. "I am particularly concerned about the many unanswered questions surrounding the withdrawal of Mosaica Turnaround Partners from the charter selection process," the mayor said in a letter he sent today to Archie, whom he spoke to by phone Sunday. After the phone call, Nutter said he still has questions about what went down.
King's school advisory council, which consists mostly of parents, voted eight to one to have Mosaica run the school as a charter beginning in September. The SRC endorsed their choice, but after a closed-door meeting with Archie, a Mosaica representative, Deputy Superintendent Leroy Nunery and Evans - who has ties to Foundations, a nonprofit that was the committee's second choice - Mosaica mysteriously withdrew from the process. Foundations withdrew late last week, citing a "culture of unrelenting hostility."
There are questions about the role of Archie, who recused himself from voting on the match because his law firm represented Foundations. Nunery has said he didn't know what was going to be said at the meeting and was shocked by what happened. Superintendent Arlene Ackerman has said she didn't know what went on, either.
Should Archie have been holding meetings about this issue? What about the district administration, particularly Nunery and Ackerman? Do you think Mosaica was pressured into backing out of the deal to run King? How do you think this will affect King's staff and students going forward?
Archie has to go. How transparent is his lack of ethics?
Comment removed.- Comment removed.
- I trust Nutter.— pmorse
- Dr Martin Luther King Jr must have a tear in his eye, up in Heaven. The school bearing his name has become the focus of a controversy centered on greed, corruption and misuse of power. The people involved are all the beneficiaries of his sacrifice, and those of many others, in the quest for racial equality in America. Having earned positions of authority, the people involved in this scandal are squandering the heroism of those on whose shoulders they stand. Shame! Evans, Archie, Nunnery, Ackerman, and all others involved deserve condemnation. They have stomed on the very heart of those who sacrificed to give them the opportunities they now abuse. Moreover, the children left deprived of even a basic education are their legacy. Woe to America, if we allow greedy politicians to profit on depriving our children of a decent education!— DonQ
- Comment removed.
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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