2 SRC spots up in the air

AMID SPECULATION that Heidi Ramirez is leaving the School Reform Commission under political pressure, the status of the commission has grown even murkier.

Gary Tuma, Gov. Rendell's spokesman, confirmed last night that Rendell has withdrawn his nomination for Joseph Dworetzky, who was his pick for another open spot on the board that oversees Philadelphia's public schools.

Tuma said he wasn't sure when the nomination was pulled, but said that it was at least a week ago.

A spokesman for Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi said the nomination was recalled June 30 - the deadline for the state budget.

Tuma, a former Senate staffer, said the governor's recall was the result of a provision in the state constitution that gives the Senate 25 legislative days (not calendar days) to decide on a nominee.

"The governor recalled the nomination as a technical matter and plans to resubmit his name," he said.

Some education advocates have suggested that the recent shuffling on the commission resulted from pressure by Senate Republicans, who, the advocates said, were pushing for more GOP representation on the SRC as part of a budget compromise.

During confirmation hearings in June, lawmakers on both sides expressed concerns about Dworetzky.

"The Senate indicated to the governor that there won't be support for the nominee," Pileggi's spokesman, Erik Arneson, said last night.

Attempts to reach Dworetzky, a partner at Hangley Aronchick Segal & Pudlin law firm, were unsuccessful.

But Tuma said that withdrawing and resubmitting a nomination is not uncommon.

"This happens all the time. He'll resubmit his name and the clock will start all over again," he said.

Tuma didn't say when the nomination would be resubmitted.

News of the recall emerged a week after the abrupt resignation of Ramirez, one of the more vocal board members, who has said that differences in opinion kept her from serving on the board effectively.

Ramirez, who will remain in her post until she's replaced, resigned last Wednesday.

Paired with the governor's recall, that leaves two of the five spots on the commission uncertain as the district gears up for the school year.

Rendell has said that he and Pileggi spoke about the person who should replace Ramirez, but during a recent interview with the Daily News, Pileggi said that he only suggested the type of person who should fill the post.

"I haven't given any thought of anyone to fill the vacancy," he said.

The governor has a nominee in mind to replace Ramirez but hasn't revealed who that person is, Tuma said.