First, re-establishing the oversight role of the SRC. The difference between the school board and the SRC is that the commission has the extra responsibility for financial oversight.
Second, stabilizing the district's finances. It's no secret that the district's current spending level, even after cuts, is unsustainable. You have to figure out if there are things you can't afford to do because you have things you have to do.
Third, earning back the public trust. Without that, it will be hard to do everything else.
Fourth, establishing a leadership team. We have a tendency to look for personalities, but in an organization as big as the School District, you really have to have a senior person with a track record as someone who can effectively lead.
And fifth, increasing safe, good-quality educational opportunities for all Philadelphia children. Note that I said increasing. You get lots of discussion about what to do with chronically poor-performing schools. There's not much discussion about how to be a lot more proactive to expand the opportunities in schools that do succeed.
Q: Going back to the third item on your list. The SRC and the district have taken a beating this year. How do you propose to restore public trust?
Ramos: You do it one day at a time, through what you say and do and don't do. As cliched as it is, actions speak louder than words.
A lot of reviews are needed within the district. Finances, yes, but also the standard practices regarding ethics and integrity. We may want to invite an outside critique.
Q: Studies show that the dropout rate is especially high among black and Latino boys in Philadelphia and elsewhere. What should be done to change that?
