He called the commission's interim pick as schools chief "unfortunate." Nutter joins Street, Rendell in criticizing SRC's moves

Democratic mayoral nominee Michael Nutter and U.S. Rep. Chaka Fattah yesterday joined Gov. Rendell and Mayor Street in voicing displeasure over the School Reform Commission's decision this week to name an interim superintendent.

On Thursday, Rendell and Street issued a joint statement opposing the Wednesday appointment of Thomas M. Brady, a retired Army officer, to the top job.

They complained that they had not been consulted by the commission, though it had promised to work with them in deciding what would happen following the departure of schools chief executive Paul Vallas.

Nutter called the move "unfortunate" and said that he was surprised by "the totality" of what the commission did in appointing a new management team without talking with Rendell or Street. Fattah described himself as "very disappointed."

Nutter and Fattah, who both were candidates in Tuesday's mayoral primary, made their comments during a joint afternoon visit to the after-school programs of the Independence Charter School in Center City.

Fattah had made after-school programs a focal point of his campaign; he visited one after-school program each day during the final week of the race. He invited Nutter to join him at the school for a post-primary display of unity and support for expanding after-school programs throughout the city.

Asked about the significance of appearing with his former rival, Nutter replied, "I never considered us to be rivals. We've known each other for too long and done too many good things together."

Fattah, who also had words of praise for Nutter, said, "It's important for these young people to understand there's a time for competition and a time for cooperation."