Post a commentAckerman says she knew West parent worked for nonprofit
Superintendent Arlene Ackerman said Friday that she knew one West Philadelphia High parent was a part-time employee of a nonprofit at the center of controversy over a potential conflict of interest.
The issue led this week to the Philadelphia School District's halting plans to overhaul West in September.
In a news conference, Ackerman said she "didn't have a problem" with parent Carla Jackson working part time for the Philadelphia Education Fund, which has ties to a firm that had sought to run West. She said she had hoped Jackson, a member of the School Advisory Council, would abstain from casting a vote for West's manager.
The Education Fund paid three parents a small stipend to get other parents involved in the school. Jackson still works part time there.
"We don't blame them," Ackerman said of the parents Friday. "What they should have done is step down."
The Education Fund has a long history with Johns Hopkins/Diplomas Now, the provider selected by West's School Advisory Council to manage the school.
Carol Fixman, director of the Education Fund, said her staff alerted the four parents to make their employment known to the district.
"They assured us they had done that," Fixman said.
Two of the parents paid by the Education Fund voted for Hopkins; Jackson and one other did not. A legal analysis performed by the Education Law Center concluded there was no conflict of interest, but the district is still investigating.
Robert L. Archie Jr., chair of the School Reform Commission, became aware of the potential conflict on May 26, the day of a commission meeting. He said he didn't recall who alerted him to it, but he said a majority of commissioners agreed it was best not to vote for a resolution approving Hopkins.
The advisory council members said they decided as a group not to comment.
The 15-member council, made up of eight parents and seven community members, must be restructured, Ackerman said.
"It can't stay as it is," she said. "We'll reconstitute the council and move on."
West will remain a district-run school with the same empowerment supports it receives now still in effect next year, Ackerman said.
The school has made progress under Principal Saliyah Cruz, who's been there for three years. She will remain at
The issue led this week to the Philadelphia School District's halting plans to overhaul West in September.
In a news conference, Ackerman said she "didn't have a problem" with parent Carla Jackson working part time for the Philadelphia Education Fund, which has ties to a firm that had sought to run West. She said she had hoped Jackson, a member of the School Advisory Council, would abstain from casting a vote for West's manager.
The Education Fund paid three parents a small stipend to get other parents involved in the school. Jackson still works part time there.
"We don't blame them," Ackerman said of the parents Friday. "What they should have done is step down."
The Education Fund has a long history with Johns Hopkins/Diplomas Now, the provider selected by West's School Advisory Council to manage the school.
Carol Fixman, director of the Education Fund, said her staff alerted the four parents to make their employment known to the district.
"They assured us they had done that," Fixman said.
Two of the parents paid by the Education Fund voted for Hopkins; Jackson and one other did not. A legal analysis performed by the Education Law Center concluded there was no conflict of interest, but the district is still investigating.
Robert L. Archie Jr., chair of the School Reform Commission, became aware of the potential conflict on May 26, the day of a commission meeting. He said he didn't recall who alerted him to it, but he said a majority of commissioners agreed it was best not to vote for a resolution approving Hopkins.
The advisory council members said they decided as a group not to comment.
The 15-member council, made up of eight parents and seven community members, must be restructured, Ackerman said.
"It can't stay as it is," she said. "We'll reconstitute the council and move on."
West will remain a district-run school with the same empowerment supports it receives now still in effect next year, Ackerman said.
The school has made progress under Principal Saliyah Cruz, who's been there for three years. She will remain at
Read more: http://www.philly.com/inquirer/education/20100605_Ackerman_says_she_knew_West_parent_worked_for_nonprofit.html#ixzz0q50jTcdl
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