On the Ackerman watch
Emerging from district headquarters to greet supporters and speak to the media, Philadelphia schools chief Arlene C. Ackerman was unequivocal - she's not going anywhere.
On the Ackerman watch
Kristen Graham
UPDATE, 2:10 p.m.
Emerging from district headquarters to greet supporters and speak to the media, Philadelphia schools chief Arlene C. Ackerman was unequivocal - she's not going anywhere.
"I am superintendent of schools," Ackerman said.
"I'm going to stay until I can't stay anymore," she said.
She said she had no negotiations for a buyout going on "right now. At this point, I am just going to focus on being superintendent," Ackerman said.
Several sources have told The Inquirer that a deal is being worked on that would give Ackerman less than the $1.5 million buyout she is entitled to under her current contract. A portion would come from the district and a portion would come from a private foundation to which donations could be tax-deductible and anonymous.
Ackerman said that as far as she knew, the School Reform Commission still supports her. Last week, SRC Chairman Robert L. Archie Jr. read a statement saying that the SRC will continue to work with Ackerman under the terms of her contract.
But Ackerman's supporters say that Archie and others are trying to push Ackerman out, and say that she is being told to stay away from work some days.
Ackerman has missed numerous days in recent weeks. She was not at last week's SRC meeting, or the opening of the Superintendent's Leadership Conference Tuesday.
Ackerman, who suffers from asthma, said she had been ailing in the past few days.
After Ackerman spoke, activist Sacaree Rhodes burned a copy of the Inquirer, saying the paper's coverage of Ackerman has been racist.
"The devil is on our feet," Rhodes shouted as the paper burned. "The Daily News and the Inquirer has done nothing but treated this woman like she has committed a crime! The only crime she has committed is demanding justice for all."
"You're going to pay for it," Rhodes added.
Later, members of the Pennsylvania Black Legislative Caucus arrived at district headquarters to meet with Ackerman.
State Sen. Anthony Hardy Williams (D., Phila.) said he strongly supports Ackerman, and called the SRC's handling of the situation "embarrassing."
State Sen. Shirley Kitchen (D., Phila.) said that Ackerman deserves the city's support.
"The children have made more progress under her" than they have in the past, Kitchen said. "We need to think about the children here instead of personalities. We want her to stay because it is best for children."
Kitchen said Archie should be removed as chair of the SRC.
She and Williams were joined in the meeting with Ackerman by state Sen. Leanna Washington and Reps. W. Curtis Thomas and Tony Payton. The group met behind closed doors for more than an hour.
Afterwards, Waters and Williams said they will request immediate meetings with Archie and Mayor Nutter. They said they want the SRC to take no action on Ackerman until they meet.
EARLIER:
As speculation mounts that Superintendent Arlene C. Ackerman is on her way out, supporters say she's coming to work today and they will usher her into her office at district headquarters on North Broad Street. Will it happen? Check back for updates. As usual, I'll be live Tweeting; follow me @newskag, or here.
Read today's "Where is Arlene Ackerman" print story here.
Most of the calls and e-mails I've received from readers center on the interesting tidbit that some of a rumored buyout package for Ackerman will come from donations accepted through a private foundation. They would be anonymous and tax-deductible. The idea of private money being used to make someone go away is something we haven't seen before.
I'll bring you more as it happens.
Hopefully Dr. Ackerman will get 4 more years, because she deserves it! No matter what those that are upset because she won't boul down say, she here to stay. Now can we focus on funding our schools instead of prisons and horses.
— e_bussie- Bussie, what is "boul?" Do you even understand what you write yourself? You don't even understand what you are fighting for. You should be fighting for children, not a leader who has lost the confidence of an entire city (and two big cities before that). Take your bullhorn from where the sun don't shine and actually DO GOOD for the children of Philadelphia. Stop the clown act. — legend1
- I guess you had fun at your little meeting @440 last night, how many people were there? 3?? Did you get a contract in exchange for your bullhorn? Give her 4 more years, just far away from here. And since you're such a fantastic supporter, please leave with her. Philadelphia's children will be better instructed without her, and you.
— sdp_parent - so that meeting...was that her days work? Off to Devon!— hmmm
- What has she done for any students who are not minority? Answer anyone?— crystalrainbowspirit1
- This is sooooo embarrassing. As a native Philadelphian and African American I am soooo embarrassed.
Are Curtis Thomas, Tony Paton and Leana Washington autophobic?? This is truly black on black crime and they don't even see it. Free your people and let her go!— notapuppet - This is sooooo embarrassing. As a native Philadelphian and African American I am soooo embarrassed. Are Curtis Thomas, Tony Paton and Leana Washington autophobic?? This is truly black on black crime and they don't even see it. Free your people and let her go! (HTML deleted)— notapuppet
- so she could show up to meet followers BUT she was unavailable for the commissioner's meetings this morning which is what we pay her for. seriously. i got a contract where i work and if i'm absent too much, it doesn't matter. Let's pitch her for absenteeism.
The queens followers say the children have made progress but we've now seen ample evidence this was faked and the violaence she's covered up has gotten worse not better.— Graves - We supporter Dr. Ackerman because she deserves to be supported, I am not sure which is worse the hate filled and sometimes racist comments or the aliases some HIDE behind while hating and attacking good people. But this is the price you pay when you stand up against the "good ol boys". Emmanuel— e_bussie
- bussie: let's talk about racist comments for a minute... did we ever see you in meetings with Dave Hornbeck, Paul Vallas or Tom Brady? Of course not. What kind of not-for-profit educational enterprise do you run? Did you held your hand out and were refused a piece of the pie? You can't contract with a government agency if you're just coming out of bankruptcy. Maybe your queen forgot that. There's no good ol' boys network anymore in Philly; at least not since John Street. Only in your imagination. Good thing for comic books but not for the reality of the children of Philadelphia. — sdp_parent
- Annnnnnnnnnd, there he is. E. Bussie and is fine grammar to stand up for an incompetent manager and tell us all we are racists because she is awful. Bussie, do you recall this happening to Condie Clayton? Absolutely not. Because it didn't. She left gracefully and without the ignorant behavior of yelling "racist" on her way out. Grow up!!!— legend1
- "You're going to pay for it, Rhodes added." --- The tax payers have been "paying for it" for decades. Ackerman is just the latest stooge of the corrupt Democrat Machine. She is also the most racist, arrogant, incompetent of the bunch. A white male wouldn't have lasted a year pulling what she's pulled.— psyrus
- @e_bussie:
What is your agenda? Are you advocating for the children of PSD or just Arlene Ackerman?
As a teacher in this district, I am appalled at the way Ackerman has gouged many schools to fund her Promise Academies. How can anyone support school "reform" that demands that other schools lose resources to provide additional services for a few schools?— nikki1231 
Comment removed.- Black Caucus? It is that color line drawing that is the root of so many problems.....as John Street so proudly & loudly proclaimed "the brothers & sisters are running the city"....sadly, besides being racist it was also true...and the results in all areas of Philly "leadership" show it....— kelprod2
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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