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SRC gets self to a Nunery

IT'S BEEN about three years in the making, but Deputy Superintendent Leroy Nunery, 55, has finally gotten the chance to run Philadelphia's schools.

IT'S BEEN about three years in the making, but Deputy Superintendent Leroy Nunery, 55, has finally gotten the chance to run Philadelphia's schools.

With schools chief Arlene Ackerman out of the picture, Nunery, who lost out to her in his bid for the top gig in 2008, is now in the hot seat.

The district still faces a $35 million budget gap and major cuts to personnel and programs. Nunery has said that he wants to focus on a successful start of school on Sept. 6.

"This has been a difficult time," he told the Inquirer yesterday. "My goal is to do as much outreach to all our respective communities - and I do mean all.

"We need resources and we need friends - two key words."

Meanwhile, Jerry Jordan, president of the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers, told the Daily News that the 15,000-member union may have a more cordial relationship with Nunery than it had with Ackerman.

Jordan had refused to renegotiate members' contracts to help close a multimillion-dollar gap as long as Ackerman was superintendent, and had called for her ouster.

He said that he was encouraged by the fact that Nunery called him directly yesterday morning to inform him that Ackerman was leaving.

"I have to say that it was an indication of respect that has been missing," Jordan said. "For us to operate the schools well, we have to work together. It's not any one person who can do it alone."

Since late June, Nunery has filled in for Ackerman on numerous occasions. On June 27, Ackerman signed a letter giving him authority to perform district business in her absence during July and August.

Nunery's professional resume includes overseeing dozens of Edison charter schools around the country, including several in the Philadelphia area.

He also held high-level positions with the National Basketball Association and the University of Pennsylvania, and oversaw a Philadelphia-based education-consulting company.

He served in a number of roles for the district before being given the No. 2 position.

- Staff writers Valerie Russ and Jan Ransom contributed to this

report.