State rep to call for Ackerman's removal
A state representative from Northeast Philadelphia who has criticized Superintendent Arlene C. Ackerman will call for her removal on Thursday.
State rep to call for Ackerman's removal
Kristen Graham
My colleague Martha Woodall has this breaking news:
A state representative from Northeast Philadelphia who has criticized Superintendent Arlene C. Ackerman will call for her removal on Thursday.
“Every day she is there she is doing irreparable harm to the school district,” State Rep. Michael McGeehan, D-Phila., said Wednesday night.
McGeehan said he will call on Gov. Corbett to urge the Philadelphia School Reform Commission to fire Ackerman.
“I’m going to call on the governor to call on the SRC to terminate her contract immediately,” McGeehan said. “It serves no one person — save her — to stay one day longer.”
The district is facing a $629 million budget shortfall after July 1, and on Wednesday district officials announced that they will have take $25 million in reserves to balance the current $3.2 billion, as well.
“We have reached the tipping point,” McGeehan said, adding that Ackerman has no credibility in Harrisburg and her continued presence at the district’s helm harms “the district’s ability to deliver a consistent and believable message to Harrisburg about funding.”
Four months ago, McGeehan held a news conference in front of the district offices to raise questions about district’s procurement practices and Ackerman’s decision to suspend six senior executives while the district investigated leaks about the awarding of an $7.5 million no-bid emergency contract to install surveillance cameras.
“I hoped things would get better, but instead it’s much worse,” he said.
District officials declined to comment.
As a result of the state takeover of the district in December 2001, the governor appoints three of the five SRC members; the mayor appoints two.
Corbett has yet to select a replacement for David F. Girard-diCarlo, the lone Republican on the commission who resigned in February.
Comments (53)
Jesse Jackson is probably already on a plane to Philly.— hey buddy
Comment removed.- Can I report the abuse of the exclamation point? — woodyung
- and rev al...bees on his way too— ghostmarine
- hey buddy, you're an idiot racist. Ackerman is corrupt and incompetent and absolutely doing harm to our school system and our children,AND NEEDS TO GO! but dont act like your master race has never succumbed to ignorance, corruption and nepotism. I lived through Rizzo, too.— mbuddy
- hey buddy, you're an idiot racist. Ackerman is corrupt and incompetent and absolutely doing harm to our school system and our children,AND NEEDS TO GO! but dont act like your master race has never succumbed to ignorance, corruption and nepotism. I lived through Rizzo, too.— mbuddy
- jesse, al, are welcome to hoot for ackerman, that will prove she should be booted out of her job for a poor job of educating any kid in philly.— Miss M.
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- Will be fun watching to see which racist comes out the winner of this battle.— TomM
- Will be fun watching to see which racist comes out the winner of this battle.— TomM
- Just like Greene at the PHA, Rendell had to have Ackerman; and shocker, she turns out to be another parasite! Keep paying your Taxes, except you Ackerman, and remember don’t forget to vote Democrat! Philly Democrats need you now more than ever!— CrashTestCorzine
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- Her color means NOTHING. She is a horrible leader, manager, example...the list goes on. She is simply a disaster that continues to maker her problems worse. I can't see one positive impact she has made on Philadelphia in her (hopefully over) tenure.— legend1
- Her color means NOTHING. She is a horrible leader, manager, example...the list goes on. She is simply a disaster that continues to maker her problems worse. I can't see one positive impact she has made on Philadelphia in her (hopefully over) tenure.— legend1
- Maybe the so-called racist(your words not mine mbuddy) is a supporter of that liberal McGeehan, you know what they say about birds of a feather.
(if this post appears 2x's it's Philly.com not me, apparently I'm not the only one with this issue)— TomM - Blame the teachers and their pensions, health care, poor test scores, poor leadership, bad discipline, terrible parenting, liberal thinking, and generally caring for their students that caused all of these problems.... it's the teachers fault. Or maybe not?— D65GTO
- Man, I'd love to see her gone. Don't think it'll happen though. For all the complaining about unions, two real groups are hurting this country and impossible to get rid of. The big corporations and corrupt politicians.— HandNik
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- 'bout time!! The woman is dragging down the educational system in Philadelphia and making mega bucks doing it! Unbelievable!— dogman5
- Do it, Mike. Finally, someone taking some action. She's a tyrant and she's pure trash. Time for her to go.— joke job
- Suddenly this clown McGeehan is a public school advocate!? Give me a break. He's probably never set foot in a Philadelphia Public School in his life. His only agenda is to curry favor with his redneck buddies in Harrisburg and attempt to embarass Philadelphia politicians. Funny how we never heard a word from him on this issue until his buddies lost out on a contract bid. What a fraud.— JLH
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- Don't just fire her. Ship her off to prison with the rest of this criminal fascist regime called Pennsylvania.— jbizzquick
- As a graduate and former employee of the public schools, I've never seen a more despotic, incompetent, and arrogant superintendent. Her lack of concern for the Asian students at S. Phila. HS who were brutally assaulted along with her total coldness towards teacher victims of assault have ruined the morale of the school system. The question is not whether she should be replaced, it is who hired her in the first place? By the way, how much better are the schools since the state took over, got rid of the schoolboard, and decided to forbid teachers to exercise their freedom?— Duckdwort
- Her appointment came out of Rendell's office. She's been allowed to keep her job b/c she's doing what the politicians want her to do-privatize public education by making schools charters or giving them to private corps. to run...and make a profit. — sabelotodo
- ITS ABOUT TIME............!!!!!!— THETRUTHTAXIN
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- Please! Please!! Puhleeze!!! Fire Arlene Ackerman NOW!!!— Pete H
- Sound like mikey lost out in one of his charter school deals with the school district next will be the feds— chesterfield
- Forget the racism and all of your political agendas. she is arrogant, nasty, poor manager,overpaid,ultra poor leader and doing nothing but try to advance her theories but never understood the real issues like safety in schools and toooooo many parents that are a hindrance to education.— bull****meter
- Can you here me now.— keep deleting my account
- Please call Rep. McGeehan and CIVILLY support his valiant actions to get rid of this woman who is irrevocably harming the lives of the children of Philadelphia. His phone number is (215) 333-9760— Devoted Teacher
- I think that she's gone - AND that someone from Washington is on their way to Philly tomorrow to find out more!— DW in DC
- Thank you! Finally, someone with authority thinks she should go. I've been saying this for years. However, the SRC & Nutter love her! I am in the District and I see what's going on. She has got to go!— gingerpitt
- The brothas and sistas are in charge!!!— Pete H
- Just this morning I posted under the story about her firing the whistle blowers, that someone important should come along and kick this woman to the curb.. So thanks, Mike McGeehan, I hope you don't get run over by the political machine that would aim to keep her here for the wrong reasons.— drbob1
- She has no credibility in Harrisburg. She has no credibility in DC or San Fransisco either which is why she was fired in those two cities. She has no respect amongst Philly teachers, administrators, and other "low level" district employees. I have heard so many of my colleagues begging for Paul Vallas. VALLAS! Whom we did not like either. But this superintendent is unbelievable.— lcr3002
- IT'S ABOUT TIME!!! As far as decisions go, this was a no brainer! Here is a question, with all of her recent decisions and controversies why does Mayor Nutter support her? Would somebody please ask him this question...I doubt no debate moderator or reporter will!— BigE
- I kant beleeve what you sayin bout Ms. Akerman! Az a prowd studint in the Philly skoolz sistem, i kan speek furst hand at wat a fine job she has dun. She has dun gr8 things to improove the kwality of my edukation. Violince is down, klasses is gettin smal, and dat new readin program is terrifik.— Valjean24601
- Ed Rendell-Commioner Neal, David Hornbeck, Carl Green, Donna Cooper, Arlene Ackerman— centurion
- Ed Rendell-Commioner Neal, David Hornbeck, Carl Green, Donna Cooper, Arlene Ackerman— centurion
- You know, the racist drivel only makes posters look like the trash they are - and detracts from the actual discussion. Regardless of how you feel, how about a rational, respectful conversation. How lowlife do you have to be to think playing the race card is even marginally clever? I guess trash can't recognize itself.
— Jame - where is Nutter? it's HIS city— jaydg22
- Yesterday I saw a TV news item about Philly public school students applying for state financial aide. Although the funds are available, most of the students unsuccessfully struggled to fill out the necessary forms. Most couldn't complete the forms. Ackerman's system is turning out illiterates.— Disco Dave
- In defense, kids are no longer, if rarely taught basic life skills, i.e., filling out applications, writing a check, etc. Everything is about answering PSSA type questions and filling out bubble sheets. Education is no longer about critical thinking and life/job skills, it's about test taking strategies for the PSSA. NCLB and high stakes testing is creating a generation of bubble filling drones.
— MacMaven - Corbett needs to remove the Queen or she will not go on her own. She has no shame and she's managed to either con, bully or manipulate Nutter. She plays the race card and the children card constantly to cover her tracks. Her apologists and, of course, the Queen herself, will turn this into a racial attack on her so she can, as always, play the victim. I am NO FAN of Corbett but only he has enough clout to remove her.— jlkndy
- Hoodie with sneaks-----your bizarre racism will be used to make Ackerman a victim AGAIN. She has earned the right to be fired and should have been gone 2 years ago. She also needs to take Ms. Kemp with her. That talkinghead needs to go somewhere else and fast.— jlkndy
- Face it. Ackerman is the darling of the freeloading establishment who ay little or nothing and have everything handed to them. As long as she caters to them she'll stay. Maybe the tax ayers should force her to resign by not paying their taxes unti she does.— crystalrainbowspirit1
- It is my understanding that Ackerman was ousted from the New York School District. Why on earth is it that Philadelphia recruited her? It really was not responsible of Philadelphia. Violence in the schools still exists and the district still doesn't recognize the poorer schools in the way of receiving funds for material and books. Re-awarding city issued contracts to her friends is a conflict of interest and a crime.— diane_grant
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Inquirer reporter Kristen Graham writes the Philly School Files blog, where she covers education in Philadelphia, both in and out of the classroom.
Kristen Graham
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