Nevels resigning as chair of Philadelphia’s School Reform Commission

James Nevels, the only chairman the Philadelphia School Reform Commission has ever known, plans to leave the position this fall.

Nevels announced today that he would resign from what he called "the most gratifying job of my life" after the opening of the city's public schools this fall.

"After over five years at the helm, it is time for me to step down...," he said in a statement, "and to enable the new SRC chair to create a new team to lead what will likely be the most crucial decision of her or his tenure, the appointment of the next district CEO."

Nevels, who was appointed by then-Gov. Mark Schweiker, could have stayed on through January 2009, when his seven-year term was to have expired. But recently, he had incurred the displeasure of Gov. Rendell.

In June, after school district CEO Paul Vallas resigned amid controversy over the size of the district's budget deficit, Rendell suggested that the blame lay as much with the SRC as with Vallas.

"They both failed," Rendell said of the commission and Vallas, adding that he would consider replacing Nevels if he had a suitable candidate.

Now, the governor will be able to name his own candidate.

The SRC was created in 2001 as part of the state's takeover of the Philadelphia school district. Three of its five members are appointed by the governor, the two others by the mayor.

Nevels, who lives in Swarthmore, Delaware County, is chairman of the Swarthmore Group, a Center City-based investment firm.

In his resignation announcement, Nevels cited the gains in district math and reading scores and said he "could not be more proud" of the commission's performance.