Ackerman absent at tumultuous SRC meeting

IN YET ANOTHER tumultuous meeting of the School Reform Commission yesterday, accusations and questions flared as the school chief's notable absence took center stage amid persistent rumors of a plan afoot to boot her out.

A district spokeswoman told reporters that Superintendent Arlene Ackerman was ill. But after a line of questioning from state Sen. Anthony Williams, SRC Chairman Robert Archie said "she chose not to be here."

But many, including Williams, who was among those who spoke before the commission, accused the SRC of keeping Ackerman from attending the meeting.

Last week's equally charged session, at which it was announced that Promise Academies, one of Ackerman's key initiatives to overhaul struggling schools, were to be drastically cut, showed just how much she's been marginalized within the district, Williams said.

"They didn't include her," he said of the decision to cut the number of schools. "I'm quite concerned about the manner in which they're managing that relationship [with Ackerman], and I think it's to the detriment of the district."

He said he had learned from Ackerman that she had found the money in the budget to fund the 11 Promise Academies slated to open, yet they were slashed to three without her consent.

There were "interested parties" who were not in favor of Promise Academies being opened, he added.

"They weighed in and won," Williams said. "This is what destroyed the school district in the first place - politics and special interest."

He said he had asked state Sen. Jeffrey Piccola, chairman of the Senate Education Committee, to request a meeting with the SRC. He also plans to speak with Mayor Nutter about his support for Ackerman.

A district spokeswoman said the SRC was willing to meet with Williams. After the meeting, Archie refused to speak with reporters regarding Williams' claims.

"Don't ask me any questions," Archie snapped as he walked past reporters.

But in his opening remarks, Archie said the board was still committed to working with Ackerman.

"Dr. Ackerman is and continues to be the superintendent of this school district," he said to cheers from the crowd.