Critics say Ackerman clinging to expensive 'pet projects'

Say what you will about Schools Superintendent Arlene Ackerman, but when she believes in something, she won't let anyone get in her way.

As proof of that, look to her unwavering stance to increase funding for Promise Academies - one of her key Renaissance Schools initiatives to turn around failing schools - despite pleas from some politicians and taxpayers to scale them back.

"We're making a choice," Ackerman told City Council last week, "but I can tell you that if we don't attend to these schools, you will see more of these young people and their families in social services. You will see more young people incarcerated. It is coming."

But critics say that her decision to continue to lavish the program with extra money and resources, in the face of cuts to the basics like school-bus services and teachers, shows that she cares too much about her "pet projects."

There are now six Promise Academies, but 11 more will be added this fall. That's in addition to three new Promise Neighborhood Partnership Schools, and five new Renaissance charter schools.

While many other budget items have suffered deep cuts, the total amount being spent on Renaissance Schools next year will increase from $41.6 million to $107 million, according to the district.

Spokeswoman Elizabeth Childs pointed out that Promise Academies have not gone totally unscathed. Per-student funding for the schools is being halved, from $430 to $215, and they have also been affected "by the elimination of other districtwide programs, such as common planning time [for] teachers," she said.

But budget watchers say that that's not enough, especially considering how far Ackerman and her staff are willing to go to protect the schools.

More than 1,600 teachers received pink slips last week, but Promise Academy teachers - many low on the seniority list - were exempted from the cuts. Districtwide teacher layoffs are on hold as the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers fights that exemption in court. The state Supreme Court ruled yesterday that the PFT's suit must be heard in Common Pleas Court.

As Council resumes its debate today over whether to raise taxes to send up to $100 million extra to the district to help plug its $629 million hole, Councilman Bill Green said the district should avoid expanding the program and others under Ackerman's Imagine 2014 plan. He maintains that officials have yet to prove that they've worked.

According to a midyear report showing predictive results, the district's six Promise Academies have seen a 20 percent reduction of out-of-school suspensions, a decline of serious incidents and an attendance boost. But results from this year's state standardized tests are not yet available.

"If you don't include [additional] Promise Academies in next year's budget, you're not taking away from anybody," Green said. "You didn't have it last year. To be adding programs that didn't exist last year is irresponsible."