School panel: Danza's a class act

Tony Danza will be Mr. Danza.

On a 3-to-1 vote, the School Reform Commission gave the green light for "Teach," an A&E reality show starring the actor, to film at Northeast High School this school year.

Commissioner Heidi Ramirez, who announced her resignation from the board yesterday, was the sole "no" vote. She said she wasn't convinced that it was in the best interest of students.

"I think it's a great opportunity in many ways," she said. "My first priority is ensuring the quality of instructional programming and the safety of our children, and it seemed to me to be potentially a distraction."

Casting calls for the show took place Tuesday and yesterday at the school. In what officials described as a small learning community, students interested in the arts will participate in internships in TV production under Danza.

Other than helping to teach a sophomore English class with a certified teacher, district officials said, Danza will be involved in extracurricular activities, such as a drama club and athletic programs.

The vote came after a much-publicized endorsement from Mayor Nutter, who hopes the show will shed a positive light on Philadelphia and the teaching profession, said Nutter's education chief, Lori Shorr.

But some observers wondered whether the decision would benefit students.

"How's this get us closer to our goal of having a qualified teacher in every classroom?" asked a member of the Philadelphia Student Union.

"There are so many more important issues that have an impact, and Danza will only be here for a couple of months," said Philadelphia Federation of Teachers president Jerry Jordan.

Superintendent Arlene Ackerman said district officials took every precaution to minimize distraction by placing hidden cameras that will document the first-time teacher.

She also said that, in the contract with Teach Productions, the show's producer, district officials would have a say in what stays in the rough cut and what ends up on the cutting-room floor.

Students, whose parents will sign waiver forms to appear on camera, will not be compensated for their roles in the project, but will receive class credit toward graduation, a district spokeswoman said.

The high school is also expected to get $3,500 per episode, Ackerman said. Taping will be for the first semester of this school year, with 13 episodes slated to air.

Danza has a bachelor's degree in history education from the University of Dubuque.

In other business, the SRC approved 65 expulsions, 19 of which are permanent.

Under the no-tolerance policy, district officials said they expect the number of expulsions to go down as the district works out kinks in the process. Ackerman added six hearing officers to hear more cases.

Ackerman attributed the 15 percent drop in violent incidents to the new enforcement, but critics, including nearly a dozen parents of students, questioned whether the process was too harsh.