Ramos, a member of the city's old Board of Education from 1995 to 2001, understands how the SRC's poor performance can threaten the district's relationship with students, teachers, parents, and other stakeholders in Philadelphia's public schools.
Ramos is among four new members appointed by Mayor Nutter and Gov. Corbett in recent months, leaving only one carryover from the old SRC. Time will tell if the makeover is more than window dressing, but so far, so good.
In a welcome change that stunned regular observers, the commission departed from past practice and took questions from the audience at its first meeting led by Ramos last week. Seeking public comment may be routine for most boards, but this was a significant change for the SRC.
In an unprecedented letter to the public signed by every member, the SRC urged all stakeholders in city schools to attend forthcoming community meetings to weigh in on the district's proposal to close nine schools.
Ramos also announced that SRC meetings will be streamed on the Internet or recorded. Some meetings also will be scheduled at times more convenient for parents who have to work during the day.
The message seems clear that the newly constituted SRC wants the public to have a say in crucial decisions that impact the education of the city's 155,000 public-school children.
In another positive step, the SRC rejected two resolutions to approve contracts for work that began without prior approval. The amounts were relatively small - less than $100,000 - but the action was significant. In the past, such measures would have been routinely adopted with few questions asked publicly about who got the contracts and why.
Under ousted former Superintendent Arlene C. Ackerman, the reform commission too often acted as a rubber stamp. Among other things, it made a deal to finance her nearly $1 million buyout with anonymous donations that later collapsed.
The SRC was also less than forthcoming about closed meetings in which its former chairman, Robert L. Archie, and State Rep. Dwight Evans (D., Phila.) acted in concert to award a charter-school contract.
Given its track record, many have questioned whether the SRC can be trusted to make the best decisions for children. But its new approach to public engagement should help restore confidence. It should also give the state Senate a sense of urgency to confirm Feather Houstoun's appointment to the SRC. She was appointed last month by Corbett, but a confirmation hearing has not been scheduled.
The SRC needs its full complement of members to tackle the tough jobs ahead, with the public's input.
