Philly state Rep. Michael McGeehan, who calls for Ackerman's ouster, just sent letters to Gov. Corbett and Mayor Nutter urging that they oppose a reported $1.5 million severance package that would accompany an early buyout of Ackerman's contract.
"There's no public support for paying her that," McGeehan says.
He notes that the district has suffered from, among other things, questionable contract practices, an investigation into possible cheating on standardized tests and a huge budget hole that led to higher taxes.
He adds that Ackerman, since '08, has already made more than $1 million in salary, raises and bonuses, and that the governor and mayor should use "the power of their offices" to prevent her from doubling the take.
The Mayor's Office says it hasn't received McGeehan's letter, which was sent Friday, and declines to comment.
The Governor's Office says the governor and state Education secretary are "reviewing" McGeehan's recommendations but not yet prepared to comment.
Schools communications chief Jamilah Fraser says Ackerman is "here and committed to the kids of Philadelphia." Asked about negotiations for a buyout, she says, "There are a lot of rumors."
I suspect because they're true.
Even in the unlikely event they aren't, Ackerman soon faces the potential of a cheating scandal that could devastate her argument about improved test scores.
The state Department of Education has a report on '09 scores raising red flags in 29 schools. The district is to respond to the report within about two weeks.
State Education Secretary Ron Tomalis tells me that if that response "doesn't pass the logic test, we will go in and look much deeper."
The state is also looking at test results from other recent years.
But the basic problem is broader than scores, management or even Ackerman.
