State: former SRC chair violated ethics law
Complete coverage of the Philadelphia School District by the Philadelphia Inquirer's Kristen Graham.
State: former SRC chair violated ethics law
Kristen Graham
Former Philadelphia School Reform Commission chairman Robert L. Archie Jr. violated the state’s ethics act when he voted to ratify a contract between the school system and the production company responsible for a Tony Danza reality show shot at Northeast High, Ethics Commission officials said Tuesday.
In 2009, Teach Productions, Inc. agreed to pay the Philadelphia School District’s legal fees related to the TV show — legal fees that ultimately went to Duane Morris, LLP, the law firm where Archie is a partner. The ethics panel ruled that was “a transgression” of state law.
Archie must pay Pennsylvania $6,600. It’s believed to be the first time an SRC member was found to violate ethics laws.
A state investigation and subsequent negotiated consent agreement between Archie and the state absolved Archie of other violations, including allegations that he failed to file documents disclosing financial information.
The investigation also cleared him of allegations that he used his position on the SRC to steer contracts to firms he had ties to.
Under Archie’s tenure, Universal Companies Inc. was awarded contracts to run Audenried High and Vare Middle schools, two struggling district schools, as “Renaissance” charters. Foundations, Inc. was awarded a contract to run Martin Luther King High, but ultimately withdrew from consideration after a highly scrutinized process that included another education company, Mosaica, withdrawing from consideration.
Archie had previously done legal work for both Universal and Foundations. He did not vote on either contract, but did arrange — and was present for — a meeting at his law office with then-Superintendent Arlene C. Ackerman and state Rep. Dwight Evans, who has ties to Foundations.
The Foundations contract was the subject of an earlier city ethics investigation released just after Archie’s resignation from the SRC in September, 2011.
The city’s chief integrity officer said that Archie, in one closed-door meeting over who would run King, told a Mosaica officials that “this is Philadelphia and suggested that things are different here.” The city report concluded that Ackerman refused to bow to pressure from Archie and Evans.
Archie emphatically refuted the city report's conclusions.
The state settlement also cleared Archie of wrongdoing in voting to award legal contracts to an attorney associated with Duane Morris, because the attorney had come from another firm already approved to do business with the SRC.
Archie, in a statement e-mailed to The Inquirer, said that he was “pleased that this matter has been resolved.”
When he resigned his seat on the SRC, he said that he was “satisfied that I have given the best service of which I am capable to the citizens of Philadelphia. At all times, I have acted in their sole interest and it has been a privilege and an honor to do so.
Read the full ethics commission document here.
Hopefully they'll now look into his role in aiding David T. Shulick's defrauding of the taxpayers.— #1 With A Bullet- There you go Kristen. Now go find out how much each and every SRC member has cost us. Every dime must be disclosed.
— DarnelX - Even now, this story comes to light? Even now? And so, the wheels of corruption e'er turn. — jverlin
- This comment has been deleted.— brio
- Thor Steiner, why make such unhelpful comments as "Another AA helping to defraud taxpayers"? Do you imagine that WPs ("white persons", of which I am one)are underrepresented among those "helping to defraud taxpayers"? Do you imagine that it is the AAs who are responsible for the banking frauds of several years ago that brought the world's financial systems to a halt and would, but for the taxpayers' bailout, have made the Great Depression look like a walk in the park?— Hector
- Thank God the bigoted YOkels have their finger on the pulse!!! EVERY attorney at Duane Morris is BLACK -- didja know dat??? Dat's rite, yous's keepin Philly safe for Caw-cay-zhuns! Morons...
What's stunning is that this is purported to be the "first time an SRC member was found to violate ethics laws." I guess the first time someone was actually caught and fined.
phunnyphilly.wordpress.com/2011/09/02/school-district-of-philadelphia-follow-the-money/— InNane - Thor, take off your white colored glasses. If you think Dave Cohen, Ed Rendell and many other white pols have not parlayed public funds into private wealth then - you just have not been paying attention.— Maceo
- Bob Archie is a crook protected by crocked law firm. He should have been held accountable for his uncle tom conduct long ago. He has been looting black institutions for the establishment and has gotten away with it because he is a thief who steals from the black community while licking the boots of the power structure. He is appointed to positions of power in the black community solely because he can be counted upon to do the bidding of the establishment. Put him in jail now and throw away the keys.— abe lincoln
- Wow Archie Ackerman and Evans... The 3 stooges are back!— SPENDSPEND
- What is all this nonsense about "ethics violations"? The lawyers have created their own new set of rules called "ethics". Now, when one of them steals money or commits a crime, they simply say "I violated some ethics and here's my fine. Now leave me alone." Truth is, they BROKE THE LAW and should be put in jail - but hey, that's what lawyers do...— TheMonk
- Archie is a disgrace.— nikki1231
- Wow, what a surprise, say it ain't so Joe?— STEPHEN1988
- I think his role in the current state of the School District is deeply underestimated. All of the attention goes to Ackerman, but this is the guy that gave Ackerman a blank check to do whatever the heck she wanted. He is a disgrace and has set back this current generation of young African American children who are being stripped of their schools and valuable resources because he did not do his job. But he was quick to make sure his friends and colleagues got a piece of the pie. I want to know how he sleeps at night.— Tony A.
- Wow! Philadelphia has a Chief Integrity Officer? Where's he been all this time, and what does he do? Lots of mismanagement and corruption here, but not too much integrity...— dee99999
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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