Reforming the hurricane-ravaged New Orleans school system has proven an easier task than running the schools in Philadelphia, former city schools chief executive Paul Vallas said here yesterday.
In his first appearance in the Philadelphia area since leaving in June, Vallas said that there are no union contracts tying his hands in New Orleans and that there is more funding than he had in Philadelphia. He has extended the school day to 4:30 p.m. and the school year into July.
He said those are the benefits of rebuilding from scratch the 26,000-student New Orleans Recovery School District - less than one-sixth the size of Philadelphia's 167,000-student system.
"If I can't turn this district around, believe me, it's because of my incompetency and not because of any obstacles," Vallas told about 70 educators, students and policy makers attending an education symposium at Cabrini College in Radnor.
Vallas, 54, left Philadelphia at odds with the School Reform Commission over a budget deficit and management style. He spent five years at the district's helm.
In an interview, he praised the selection of Arlene Ackerman - a former San Francisco and Washington superintendent - as Philadelphia's new schools CEO.
"She is someone who I as a superintendent would not hesitate to call for advice," Vallas said.
He also said some in the district have told him that state Budget Secretary Michael Masch, a former member of the School Reform Commission, is in line to return to the district in a leadership position. Gov. Rendell floated Masch's name for a possible new position of managing director.
With the departure of interim Chief Executive Officer Tom Brady to head the Providence, R.I., schools, Brady's former position of chief operating officer becomes open. No decisions have been made, said Heidi Gold, an SRC spokeswoman.
"Dr. Ackerman was just approved by the SRC. It really is premature to talk about this. She's working on assembling her own team," Gold said.
Barry Ciccocioppo, a spokesman for Rendell's office, said Masch would continue to work as budget secretary, which includes helping the state-run school district with its budget struggles.
Of Masch, Vallas said: "He'd be an excellent choice. He solidifies that link with the state."
Several former Philadelphia administrators have joined Vallas in New Orleans, including Gwen Morris, who used to head district discipline, and Nilsa Gonzalez, an academic executive.
