Shakeup at SRC: Former city bus aide appointed
Complete coverage of the Philadelphia School District by the Philadelphia Inquirer's Kristen Graham.
Shakeup at SRC: Former city bus aide appointed
Kristen Graham
A shakeup is coming to the Philadelphia School Reform Commission, the Inquirer has learned.
Commissioner Lorene Cary, who had taken a leave of absence for medical reasons, will not be reappointed. Her term is up at the end of the month" . In her place, Mayor Nutter will appoint Sylvia P. Simms, a parent advocate.
Wendell Pritchett, whose term is also up this month, will be reappointed to the SRC.
Both Simms and Pritchett will serve four-year terms. Mark McDonald, a spokesman for the mayor, confirmed the appointments.
Until recently, Simms, 52, was a bus aide working with special needs children for the district. She is a North Philadelphia resident, graduate of Simon Gratz High School, and the mother of two children who graduated from Dobbins and University City High Schools. Her granddaughter currently attends T.M. Peirce Elementary, a North Philadelphia school slated for closure.
Simms is the founder of Parent Power, a parent empowerment organization.
She said she was surprised to be asked by the mayor to serve on the SRC, but honored.
"My focus is parents, families, and community engagement, and actually listening to the people," Simms said.
Simms, who will be sworn in by the next SRC meeting, on Feb. 21, said she knows she represents a new direction for the SRC, which has traditionally been made up of lawyers and other prominent Philadelphians.
"I'll be a voice at the table that's currently not at the table," she said.
She wades into an SRC that's facing enormous fiscal challenges, and will help determine the future course of the district. The SRC will vote on 37 school closings on March 7.
Simms said she has not yet fully evaluated the district's closing plans.
"But I will," she said. "I want to see how they determined the schools they're closing, to make sure it's a fair process."
One thing is sure, Simms said: she wants to make sure all Philadelphians are heard by the powers that be.
"They have to find a better way to talk to the people, and have those crucial conversations that people want to have," she said.
McDonald, the mayor's spokesman, said that Cary was not being reappointed for medical reasons, but said the mayor had the highest praise for her tenure on the SRC. Her focus on safety will be continued, McDonald said.
"Enough nice things cannot be said," about Cary, said McDonald.
As for Simms, "the mayor is very pleased," he said. "I think the mayor believes he's secured a very excellent person who will do what's best for all children."
In a statement, Nutter said that "Sylvia will bring an incredibly important and unique perspective to educational advocacy to the School Reform Commission.”
That's Nice.....WHAT IS THE "SRC"? NOWHERE in this article does the writer explain the "SRC"; what it is; or why it's important. Pitiful Journalism.
— twobostoo- The School Reform Commission is a five member panel comprised of three designers from the state, and two from the city. They operate like a school board and ultimately run the School District of Philadelphia.
They are a horrid disaster and need to be replaced by a publicly elected school board so that the citizens of Philadelphia can make their own difficult choices. We can expect no help from a Governor that doesn't believe in Public education in the first place. - What is the SRC? It might be nice if the Inky would let us know. Has something to do with schools or school buses?— tomB
- The janitor at Fels High School would make a great replacement for Hite.— Sportyrider71
- If you want to improve the SRC, replace the rest of them with bus drivers, aides, teachers, school police and janitors.— Boru
- Ramos: you should also leave,go get a real job.— aguckin
- @Sportyrider HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!!!— MrJayScott
- Hopefully she's qualified. Most key positions in Philadelphia are led by only the most unqualified. Hopefully I'm wrong this time and she's not in the news in 6 months.— neddyflanders
- at least they didn't choose helen gym. contrary to the parent above, she would be a disaster on the src. she is not independent. she's a tool of the pft. she takes her orders from jerry jordan. i don't know much about ms. simms, but she is an authentic choice.— pointguard
- The PFT and The teachers are the only ones who truly give a damn about the students of Philadelphia. Helen Gym and the Parent Teacher Association recognize this. That's why they get her support.
Comment removed.- And again, "bi,ll" rears his head only to post his on-going creep-o obsession with Helen Gym. Not a thing to add to the conversation. — mansei
- Comment removed.
- "Loudmouth hag" - such an indicative choice of words. Love how you'll post on every story about her, even when it doesn't even include her name. You hate her shooting her mouth off but you have no problem doing the same. The difference is she's talking about issues - and you're talking about her. The difference? YOU gross us out with your obsessions. — mansei
- To the Haters: Since the appointees on the SRC make no salary, it really doesn't matter what her background is. I care about the fact that she is a resident and parent and an employee.
Let me also point out that the SRC has over the past decade watched as our our district's finances got dumped in the toilet or merrily sat on the sidelines while others took down the schools.
Ms. Simms is a breathe of fresh air. I wish her luck!— nikki1231
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.
You can also follow Kristen on Twitter here.
