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Ackerman message machine uncovered
Sources tell City Paper that former Superintendent Arlene Ackerman ran a School District communications team dedicated to promoting and defending her personally, and which coordinated public rallies in her favor and spent taxpayer time and money on "propaganda."
Ackerman message machine uncovered
Ackerman
A personal PR team.
Two knowledgeable sources tell City Paper that former Superintendent Arlene Ackerman ran a School District communications team dedicated to promoting and defending her personally, and which coordinated and assisted public rallies in her favor, communicated regularly with private supporters, and spent taxpayer time and money on various kinds of "propaganda," including protest signs and a farewell tribute video. Since Ackerman's departure after negotiating a nearly $1 million buy-out of her contract, one source says the same team continues to manage Ackerman's antagonistic public relations campaign against Mayor Michael Nutter and others.
The three Communications staffers who allegedly orchestrated a personal public relations campaign for Ackerman — former Director Jamilah Fraser, and staffers Shana Kemp and Elizabeth Childs — resigned last Monday, the same day that Ackerman's buyout was announced. According to one source, the three were told they would be fired if they did not resign because they had gone rogue, spending the majority of their time working for the Superintendent even as she was headed for the door.
These sources say that Jamilah Fraser and her two deputies were dedicated to protecting and promoting Ackerman above all else. (Fraser and her two deputies were hired in November 2010, 11 months after two staffers were fired in the wake of a highly critical Philadelphia Magazine cover story titled "Queen Arlene.")
"The Communications office was running a PR support operation for Ackerman," says one source with detailed knowledge.
"It was a Communications office for the Superintendent, not for the District. It was like a personal PR team," says a second source." Around the District, "the Communications office was seen as the propaganda department for Dr. Ackerman."
Ackerman, frequently criticized for high central office salaries, paid top dollar to the three people directing her message machine: Fraser received a salary of $170,000 and Kemp and Childs made $135,000 each.*
Acting Communications Director Fernando Gallard would not respond to specific allegations laid out by these sources.
"We are currently focusing on the work ahead, and we're busy making sure that we have a successful school year starting this September 6. That is going to be the only focus of my office here and I'm not going to comment on any allegations regarding the past work done here in the District Communications office."
Fraser and Kemp declined to comment for this story, and Childs did not respond to repeated interview requests.
The team directly assisted in production of pro-Ackerman events.
As criticism of Ackerman grew louder, the superintendent echoed allegations made by activists that she was unfairly targeted because of her race and sex. According to CP's sources, the Communications office, under Fraser's direction, was in touch with the same small group of African-American activists, coordinating and making posters for a July 22 rally in support of Ackerman.
"They made posters and then handed them out to 15 or so supporters," says the second source.
One sign asked, "What About Our Children?" Another defended Ackerman's signature school turnaround initiative, reading "Keep Promise Academies" with a picture of a crying young African-American boy.
Pamela Williams, a District security guard and outspoken Ackerman supporter, was in and out of the Communications office both before and after the July 22 protest. (The District later opened an investigation because Williams was out of work on disability at the time.)
Emmanuel Bussie, an outspoken pro-Ackerman activist and regular sight at SRC meetings, allegedly coordinated his activism with the District communications team.
"They organized rallies in support of the superintendent," says the second source, "They had been working with Emmanuel Bussie, and he was, I guess, their contact person to get people to come to rallies."
At an August 3 SRC meeting, he compared Ackerman to Rosa Parks and called for her to stay.
"We've got your back," he told her at the hearing.
Bussie, an ally of Sharif Street, son of former Mayor John Street, recently voiced national political ambitions on his Facebook page ("Family and Friends, I think I am ready to elevate NATIONALY (go to that next level) what do you think? Am I ready?, he wrote on August 22").
Bussie told CP, "I'm in communication with everybody, and it was never about coordinating our actions."
"We just absolutely adore this woman for what she stands for," saying that Promise Academies delivered resources to students most in need, particularly long-underserved African-Americans.
"Even if I was a regular visitor to the Communications office, and I wasn't a regular visitor to the Communications office, it was to ask for data."
And he does not see a problem with the District spending money to support Ackerman.
"As a matter of fact, I think they should have spent more money and more resources to retain Dr. Ackerman."
The PR war goes guerilla.
According to CP sources, during Ackerman's last week in office, Jamilah Fraser and her deputies fought a rear-guard guerilla public relations war, beginning with a sensational August 18 appearance at a principal's meeting. Ackerman entered to Sade's "Is It a Crime?" and recited the Maya Angelou poem "And Still I Rise."
She asked, "Is it a crime to stand up for children instead of stooping down into the political sandbox and selling our children for a politician's campaign victory?" And then, she dared the SRC to fire her — knowing full well that her departure was already being arranged. Indeed, she was negotiating it.
The District-produced video tribute.
The team's final offensive was mounted last Monday, as word of Ackerman's imminent departure spread: a well-produced video tribute to Ackerman emerged on the District website as an overlay, so that users had to click through it to access the rest of the website.
About an hour later, the video was gone — removed by angry District officials. The video is now on Ackerman's brand-new personal YouTube channel (though "Adding comments has been disabled for this video"). Set to a maudlin classical score, the video describes the sorry state of Philadelphia public schools before Ackerman took the helm in 2008, and features inspiring testimonies from teachers, principals, students and parents testifying to the success Ackerman oversaw.
But the clips edited into the video were compiled from a variety of sources, and one featured principal was surprised to hear that her interview was used to promote the Superintendent.
"That was, to my knowledge, something in-house, maybe to be shown on the School District channel in the future," says John Webster School Principal Christine Connor.
Connor told CP that her interview was filmed in May to mark Webster's graduation from Empowerment School status.
Both sources consulted for this story confirm that the video was produced by Fraser and Kemp, working on the taxpayer dollar.
Still going.
Ackerman's message machine is still at work, says the first source, coordinating an increasingly aggressive media strategy that has included sharp-tongued interviews with Ed Week, Fox 29 and 900AM WURD.
During the WURD interview, Ackerman said the communications staffers "were ushered out like criminals."
Indeed, Ackerman seems to be turning up the heat with each interview: last Thursday on WURD, she urged parents to "vote with their feet" and take their kids out of Philadelphia public schools. And in a major surprise, she voiced support for school vouchers that would deliver public education funds to private schools--a controversial pet project of State Senator Anthony Williams, an Ackerman ally. She now plans a series of workshops for parents to, she says, "help them navigate the system."
At last Wednesday's tumultuous School Reform Commission (SRC) meeting, the activists that the communications team cultivated over the past year shouted in protest, and one person even accused black SRC members of "lynching" Ackerman. Shana Kemp was reportedly in the room.
* NOTE: An earlier version of this story said that Jamilah Fraser's $170,000 salary was higher than Mayor Michael Nutter's. In fact, Nutter's current salary is $171,525.
Illustration: Evan M. Lopez
Follow me on Twitter @DanielDenvir
Comments (110)
Does this surprise anyone?????— irishlaxer- Surprised no, but at least we can be entertained by something other than curfews & flash mobs. Just for a few days — Lyrra
- It should not surprise anyone that I will fight to know end to get rid of the SRC and have our school governed by the people of Philadelphia. I will fight to have our schools funded at the level both PA House and Senate agree on in 2007 and I totally adore the fire and fight of my HERO Dr. Ackerman because she stood up to the politicians and did not play ball when they told her to. Dr. Ackerman is strong and fearless and I respect the heck out people like that. Whether I agree or not and I do this was more about courage. We need more like this woman.
Again I am in the fight not just talking next I will fight for increased employment opportunities by focusing of investing in people and our great cities. So no you should not be surprised I am just getting started. I won't stop until we transform this great region. I have to fight this fight. Maybe I am right, maybe not, but I have to try what about you?
Emmanuel Bussie— e_bussie - You're fighting for education, huh? Perhaps you should take a high school English course first. Economics and ethics courses would probably behoove you as well if you believe that Ackerman, despite her numerous failures and self-serving actions, deserved more money. Why should she receive more money when my teacher friends have to use their own money to purchase classroom supplies?! Not only that, but why should this woman earn more than President Obama, who has an infinitely more difficult job? Of course, with an ally like Sharif Street, your integrity, sense, and motives are already in question.
If you really want to make a change in education, begin by working with the parents to make sure they're invested in their child's education. And teach the current students about respecting their education instead of throwing it away. Lastly, teach them to respect one another, so that they may create an environment conducive to learning.
Leaders lead by example. With so many grammatical errors in your post, it's hard to believe you're truly invested in education. Sorry, but it's the hard truth.— katied01 - Awww shut up Katied01! You have no idea what you are talking about! Was that grammatically correct for you? Oh and you are an idiot! Now that's the truth! — dwarren
- Did she throw you a bone, dwarren? I bet it's the last one you get now that she's off to greener pastures. — karma star
- dwarren - you seem pretty immature. Katie01 does know what she is talking about...
— Kaygram - I'm shaking my head, petty and small thinking my friend. Here’s a suggestion you just keep watching and you will see the "hard truth". While you talk, talk, talk, I'll work, work, work. My object is to communicate a point and even from my mobile phone you got this point loud and clear. But you focus on the grammar and I'll focus on funding our schools and then fighting for fair allocation of resources and jobs. Did I effectively communicate this? Tip; elevate your argument and thinking that is what our city and youth need.
Emmanuel
— e_bussie - Your full of it, just like Ackerman... hope we never meet... — ArseoleChris
- @e_bussie -- Ackerman was a dictator who drove the district (which educates my kids) straight off a cliff into an abyss. What did your "hero" give the District --(1) a $600 million deficit (despite enjoying the largest budget that the District had ever seen during her first 2 years on the job ); (1a) an extreme lack of financial planning with the bounty that was the District's budget during her first two years (but hey, maybe if she did any financial planning she would have been able to afford and execute her plan for Promise Academies);(2) an IRS investigation in District accounting practices; (3) a Dept. of Justice finding that the District, under her direction, acted with willful indifference to the civil rights of Asian students (wasn't that the same basis for the DOJ's claims against The Valley Swim Club??); and (4) ethical and legal concerns into District contracting practices (e.g., contracting for MLK High School or for those security cameras). Her only apparent success -- test scores -- is also coming under scrutiny for wide spread cheating (gotta hate that erasure marks are visible). Oops, I guess she's out of successes.
Lastly, before you "take it to the next level" (and hopefully out of Phila.), two things -- (1) next time you want to stage a take over a politician's office, please make sure that you take over the correct politician's office (and not the office of a councilman who voted in favor of the bill that you support); and (2) before you go there, learn how to spell "Nationally" (that extra "l" is always confusing, isn't it).— dafla67 - First, if you intend to take this "nationaly", you should learn how to spell "nationally." Second, of course you like your "HERO" - she's clearly the only hope you have to get ahead, so ride those coattails. Third, what do you have to say about the fact that she was negotiating her buyout AT THE SAME TIME that she told you and her other brain-dead supporters she wasn't going to quit? I guess the laugh's on you. And you can bet she's going to forget your name the moment she moves on to the next stop on the Ackerman Express. Sucker! — karma star
- An "l" "are you kidding me" All the issues we have to fight and you focus on an l or the lack of. You and people like you still amaze me. I am not sure why the paper printed a post from my Facebook page and was spelled this way I would not know, but how is this news worthy. You and people like you really need to raise you thinking an "l" and grammar. We have people hurting, hungry, shooting, joblessness and you focus on an "l". It's almost laughable if it were not so sad.
This is why I fight so hard "lack of knowledge" of self and issues form so many hate filled people. You are not speaking or commenting based on any credible facts. This entire article speaks to a huge problem in this city ignorance and petty thinking. We can do better, think better, to be better. But for many of you this is beyond comprehension. This is truly a new day when my post on FaceBook to Fam and Friends is news worthy). Wow, absolutely incredible... (did I just mispell family maybe I should leave the meeting and check for missing "ls" before I send this)
Emmanuel
— e_bussie 
Comment removed.- Not me, I've seen it all now... A million dollars for doing a shitty job, Wish Dave and Busters did that for me, and I was assualted by a guest over tickets that did not print before I quit my job. (And I was an excellent employee) — ArseoleChris
- you probably deserved it... — dwarren
- It should not surprise anyone that I will fight to know end to get rid of the SRC and have our school governed by the people of Philadelphia. I will fight to have our schools funded at the level both PA House and Senate agree on in 2007 and I totally adore the fire and fight of my HERO Dr. Ackerman because she stood up to the politicians and did not play ball when they told her to. Dr. Ackerman is strong and fearless and I respect the heck out people like that. Whether I agree or not and I do this was more about courage. We need more like this woman.
Again I am in the fight not just talking next I will fight for increased employment opportunities by focusing of investing in people and our great cities. So no you should not be surprised I am just getting started. I won't stop until we transform this great region. Maybe I am right, maybe not, but I have to try what about you?
Emmanuel Bussie— e_bussie - The writer placed the closing quote after Aug 22. But we all get his point. Did you miss this is he a bunch of names. Its ok mistakes happen we all get his point which is to sell a story. Who cares if this improves education or our city. People let's fight the right fight the good fight and it’s not each other lower your swords---- Bussie, an ally of Sharif Street, son of former Mayor John Street, recently voiced national political ambitions on his Face book page ("Family and Friends, I think I am ready to elevate NATIONALY (go to that next level) what do you think? Am I ready? he wrote on August 22").
I have to admit I do find these comments and remarks a bit entertaining. I know many most of you are not bad folk, and are not really angry at me. "You're a moron" one person said. I have to admit I am still chuckling over this. Just because we disagree I’m a moron in fact I’m an unmitigated moron. But they did say me "Mr. Bussie" you're a moron so there is hope, lol
— e_bussie - Why is she not being fired for cause. This is outrageous that the politicians are getting away with stealing our tax dollars to pay off this nutcase!!!!— WCJRJR
- If I see this woman in Philly, I will spit on her.— irishlaxer
- We face a budget deficit and these uneducated criminals playing the race card are making 170k. Absurd, how can our state and city govt let this happen— cmoney
- Does this surprise anyone? From the amount of attention she's still getting I'm sure is has.
You may disagree with her but she was able to work the system because of her education & background. Only in this Great country of America can ppl like her prosper when they work the system the way it's been worked for so many years.
It's why it was designed and it's defended by our children who go and give their lives in battle.
THE GREAT AMERICAN WAY...Learn about it on Youtube:-)— Lyrra - What? You babbling idiot! You need to find a short pier and take a long jump! How was the race card played and even if it was so what, that card should always be played until the game is played in fairness! — dwarren
- Every part of this article literally made me sick to my stomach. Since she used it for her own personal interests, make her pay us back our money!!— broadstbullies419
- You should elect officials to do a better job of watching your money! — Lyrra
- Why couldn't the Inquirer team cover this damning story? Is their staff less capable than a free weekly? I'll be getting my news from CityPaper from now on.— Jame
- what a surprise- ackerman was using tax to over pay cronies who's only job was to make her look good. andall those 'spontaneous rallies of her supporters were actually caleldo ut by her people who made the signs for them to carry? I am SHOCKED. seriously is there any way this oculd be used to bring up criminal charges of misuse of public funds? Maybe a nice criminal defense would draw off the money she's sucked out of the city.— Graves
- The three PR people were given the option to resign??!! They should have been fired, without any options!— cookie23
- This explains a lot, from the thought-free ardency of E. Bussie to the inexcusable references to Rosa Parks, lynching and earthquakes being tied into the so-called persecution of this megalomaniac to the fiscal mismanagement: After laying off 1,600 teachers, you don't spent tens of thousands of district money on a music video and a campaign against your very generous employer. When does the mayor address this? He just coerced City Council into raising our property taxes to "save the schools." How much of that money went into Arlene Ackerman's outrageous MTV debut? And how ballsy of her to steal footage of educators for it and air it on the district web site. Is there anyone out there with enough courage to stand up publicly to this woman? Mr. Mayor?— Jame
- Your comments will be the closest she gets to a courtroom, It's the great American Way... You guys don't seem to get the memo!!! — Lyrra
- don't let the Ackerman story die!!! Put the focus on Phila Children First Fund and the $405k in "donations"... they are a non-profit agency that solicited donations to benefit Ackerman. Who are those donors and what are they getting in return?? Come on Committee of Seventy and Auditor General!!!— pennyrobinson
- You can call the CIA. She getting away with it regardless.
Two weeks from now this city, this country will be shifting focus on The 9/11 Tragedy. They always take attention away from the real story, They own you— Lyrra - make her and her cronnies pay back every penny that they owe us tax paying citizens of philly— fjw
- Ackerman has proven that she certainly knows "how to navigate the system!" Who better to counsel parents how to pull their children out of the district that Ackerman now declares is "failing." The same school district that she just ran into the ground fiscally, educationally, spiritually, morally and ethically. The same one that is still going to feed her well for the next two years. Perhaps students who leave the district should also receive buyouts. Certainly her cadre of district-paid personal publicists and propagandists should receive buyouts according to Ackerman's logic. Imagine, being escorted out of 440 N. Broad by "criminals." Wow, all of this orchestrated hoopla - all on the taxpayer's dime.— Boru
- Navigate the system? HMMMMM, she's not from Philly but she navigated this system, hmmmmm sounds to me like she a pretty smart cookie. Maybe she can write a book and make more money
just like Clinton, Bush, Cheney, Powell, etc etc, , Wow this Great Country That our children are dying to defend.
Raise your flags time to celebrate, Oh that's right , save the energy for 9/11, My bad!— Lyrra - These latest allegations - if proven - rise to the level of crimes. Ackerman and her participating underlings should be PROSECUTED! She should not only forfeit any buyout and benefits - she and her cohorts should be forced to reimburse the school district for the money they accepted for doing ANY non-district related activities. They should serve time and be fined for the money that they STOLE from the CHILDREN!!!— Boru
- Comment removed.
- Can the city please sue this animal for every cent we paid her to ruin our school system here in philadelphia?!?!?!?!?— psualum
- Absolutely disgusting...... They should fire all the people that hired her! (LOL... What About Our Children... Emmanuel Bussie <--what a joke, Rosa Parks??--was unfairly targeted because of her race and sex... I can't take this city anymore!!!— neboy
- OK, Mikey. It's not rocket science. If they're working they have to be set up as a business. Make sure every tax is paid, every license and permit pulled. Otherwise, shut them down.— johanna
- How does this differ from the charges Perzel is facing? Using taxpayer money to further their own agendas. Where are Ackerman's charges?— iodine
- "...sources say that Jamilah Fraser and her two deputies were dedicated to protecting and promoting Ackerman..." John Perzel is pleading guilty because of using taxpayer money and time in campaign matters. Yet, this ilk is picking up a cool $1 million to leave??? Tired of double standard due to race and yes, I said, 'race'. Where the bleep is law enforcement to charge Ackerman and her deputies doing her work on our dime???????????????????????— phillygrlinfl
- Ackerman's actions are illegal. Nutter and the SRC: DO NOT PAY ACKERMAN the $1Million buyout. I cannot believe her communication staff got paid six figures, each. Now i see why the SDoP doesn't have money for education. This is more money than many teachers. What a joke. I am sick to my stomach.— Tyrone Biggums
- This is so not right... White, Black , Hispanic etc... If they can't do the job right, and effectively get rid of them.. School District! City Hall whereever. I live in the city.. Nutter wants more in Taxes. Time for him to clean up his house ..— Kellytape1
- Really, I think everyone but the City Officials knew what this woman was about.— vallymom
- The unbelievable part is that Nutter and the SRC were not able to fire her with cause. Pathetic.— Raz
- Haven't we had a hhistory of putting people who do this in jail for long times? People like Vince Fumo and Corey Booker come to mind, But I suppose that Ackermen is sooooooooooooooo special that this won't even be applied.— crystalrainbowspirit1
- The surprise here is that the local media refused to see thru this hogwash, either that, or they are just gullible outlets of PR spin. The later of which, is more likely to be true.— slugo
- Comment removed.
- Ex-Director Jamilah Fraser, Shana Kemp and Elizabeth Childs are thieves. yes they are all criminals. I bet they can't get a job doing PR work at the same salary in the private sector. They are the perfect example of people robbing the city's education resources, for their own greed.— Tyrone Biggums
- Comment removed.
- How did Ackerman get away with this? She showed no empathy and concern for the assaulted and fearful Aisian students at Southern HS, had no idea of how to manage the budget, and picked fights with everyone. Her egomania, coupled with incompetence, is easy to understand. The actions of the so-called SRC are beyond expanation.— Drumgoole
- Uhm, as the superintendent of the school district, public relations efforts designed to make her look good is PR for the school district. She's not a politician engaging in campaign activities on the taxpayer dollar. She's a public employee of a school district and it's her job to do PR for the school district and herself. The racists are now out in full force.— MikeP
- Playing the race card? Sad. Arrogance and incompetence knows no color. — Raz
- Please, with some rational reasoning, explain to us how this is racist in any way, other than saying, that she is a black woman, and any attack on her is racist. Most people in our nation have moved beyond this and actually judge people on their character, or lack there of in Ackerman's case. She had been negotiating a buy-out for over two months and continually campaigned herself as a victim using public money... and this is the LEAST offensive thing she has done since she has been here. I'm angry at myself for even paying attention to her racist cronies like Mike P and Emmanuel Bussie. We get it, you're upset because your gravy train left. Now move on and find someone else's coattails to ride. — nealc3
- Less than 4 days into the South Philadelphia High School boycott in 2009, members of Ackerman's PR staff contacted reporters asking them to inquire whether any boycotters had been suspended for starting the violence. The District would eventually suspend and expel two victims of violence and launch an all out PR effort to paint Southern as an interracial fight rather than the bias-based attacks that they were (City Paper's amazing coverage of one of those students won a well-deserved journalism award). In early spring, a week after South Philly students testified against a District report that showed no misconduct on school officials in the violence, a District parent group - many of whom had attended the the District's Parent University program - testified at the SRC with signs allegedly made in the District PR office saying: It's Dr. Ackerman's way or no way! and "There is only one leader: Arlene C. Ackerman."
A key claim of the Justice Dept racial discrimination suit was pointing to evidence like this that showed the direct involvement of District officials under the leadership of Ackerman and the SRC. The larger point is that the District PR machine has been an integral part of Ackerman's administration even before Jamilah's arrival, though she and Shana brought it to new depths of embarrassment and antagonism as they waged war against students, parents, school communities and their own employees as well as politicians and the SRC.— Helen Gym - Comment removed.
- If we remind ourselves that sexual harassment is really about power, then the difference between Arlene Ackerman and Carl Green are minimal.— ramprat
- Don't let the door hit you in the azz on the way out.— xxx
- Lyrra - while I agree with your points against Arlene, I need to know, are you a "9/11 was an inside job" freak?— Lunchboy
- ah wonderful. another example of the effective use of our taxes $$$. i feel like sheep...nothing we can do since higher taxes are coming on all levels.— sprucemile
- Ackerman should be arrested— Tyrone Biggums
- Is *anyone* surprised? And why is this woman not under arrest for stealing public funds? This story is sickening.— Jen D
- Stories like this are exactly why people in the suburbs are fed up with our tax dollars going to these cities. Whether it is Philly, Newark or Camden ... millions of dollars are wasted ... nothing is changed ... scores don't rise, yet they continually ask for more funding. All the while local surburban schools lose money and raise our property taxes. I get tired of listening to these clowns at the Inky claim that the city schools are underfunded or towns are racist for not joining the school choice program (the claim against the town i live in). The cities are just run by crooks and thieves at various levels who use kids and the race card as a crutch to continue stealing.— JimW
- Stories like this are exactly why people in the suburbs are fed up with our tax dollars going to these cities. Whether it is Philly, Newark or Camden ... millions of dollars are wasted ... nothing is changed ... scores don't rise, yet they continually ask for more funding. All the while local surburban schools lose money and raise our property taxes. I get tired of listening to these clowns at the Inky claim that the city schools are underfunded or towns are racist for not joining the school choice program (the claim against the town i live in). The cities are just run by crooks and thieves at various levels who use kids and the race card as a crutch to continue stealing.— JimW
- I want my tax dollars back. Roll back property increase!!!— Nitroglycerin
- Leroy Nunery II was deputy to the queen. Like nazi deputies, Rudolf Hess and Joseph Goebbels, what did he know? As current acting sup, shouldn't the SRC, the mayor and the press be questioning him about Queenie's office of propaganda? Was he somulent during the last year and 1/2 of her reign? And the unnamed whistle blowers, are they still fearful of being terminated? If so, why? Are they afraid of the SRC and Nunery? Shouldn't this be enough for your paper to visit his office and have him cough up some lies?— lefty
- It's not a crime for the staff to promote Ackerman. Promoting her is in fact promoting the school district and the things they accomplished. Comapnies do it all the time with their CEO's. What is a crime is the amount of money they got paid. It's just proof that there are many areas where the School District can cut costs instead of cutting teachers.— Jimbo123
- I'm a Philly tax payer who happens to work for the SDP. How dare that woman funnel all that money to herself and her toadies??
In the two years I worked here I have *never* seen Ackerman in any of our schools. We teachers pay for classroom supplies out of our own pockets, feed students if they're hungry and give them whatever it takes to help them learn. When I hear how AA abused our system and stole from the kids I want the mayor -or the state - whoever! to take her to court and let EVERYONE know that this b1tch is the worst thing to happen to a school system.
Shana Kemp, I know you're reading this. How can you sleep at night, knowing that you were a part of it?— I Teach in Philly - Would it surprise you to know that contractors were supposed to be supplying classroom supplies and food? Look at the money trail--I think everyone has been shown Ackerman's contract, settlement, etc. But how about the millions of dollars of contracts that are requested by various departments at SDP (like Facilities, Procurement, Food Services)? How about looking at those and then you will see who was paid--probably millions of dollars--to provide supplies but, instead, shortchanges the contract, (perhaps with the knowledge of department heads as SDP headquarters) to increase profits.
— tholonet - Mike P, no the job is COMMUNICATIONS, not public relations. And deliberate MIS-communication is NOT in the job description. Lamely trying to palm criticism of Ackerman's abuse of employee time and resources for her own purposes, her own self-promotion, that has nothing to do with the school district - as racism - denigrates the very term and all of its tragic implications. Put that card back into your deck of deception. You've lost all credibility.— Boru
- D.A. Seth Williams, Where are You?.— Allen15 Fan
- This to will pass. hurricanes, flash mobs, new Supt prospects, mayoral election, PREZ elections, earthquakes, (Charlie Sheen, l. Lohan, Brangelina, Will/Jada, drama) phillies winning Championship, More M. Vick pros/cons, etc, etc,etc,etc. 4got to mention ghadaffi, Iraq/ Iran, all distractions as well as focus on Arlene. We The PPL always fall for these distractions. Always have, Always will these blogs are living proof, we stay 2 steps behind the Real Story!
Any young females missing in aruba or anywhere else lately. Who is donald trump firing.— Lyrra - I love how the term Source is used liberally. that means diddly-squat. Name the source of your information. Crummy reporters.— tulipwalk
- JimW:
Do you know that 1/3 of all Pa tax dollars come from Philadelphia. We keep the state going? The state said in 2007, that they underfunded the School District of Philadelphia $4,000.00 per child, 1.2 Billion per year. Who are you to say that the State is wrong?— Ogbonna - She also used her personal to wipe her arse.— lvazques
- Comment removed.
- Typical Democratic corruption in the small city of Philadelphia!— phillydaveaml
- Well, we have no idea why she was fired. We know that it had nothing to do with her performace. The SRC refuses to emplain why she was fired. As far as the racism is concerned, it's displayed in these comment sections every day. Calling her an "animal", repeating over and over again that former mayor Street said "Now the brothers are in charge" as if that statement has anything to do with Ackerman. Other than she also happens to be black. You can deny that you are racists all that you want but your not being honest when you do so. And, no, I'm not a someone who is "on the dole", as it is assumed that all black people are" and I'm not a black person. I know. Only black people would defend Ackerman. I'm not getting any benefit from anything to do with the city and I'm not black.— MikeP
- Comment removed.
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Good Riddance, the whole SRC is BS and should be abolished.... Too bad we can't get back any odf that money back from Ackerman, the District could use it to hire back some teachers it laid off...
Sharif Street!!! what a bloody joke, clown shoes man..... effin clown shoes...— ArseoleChris - MikeP, I'm not a supporter of Ackerman. I think she came here to promote a right-wing agenda to privatize public schools and now that she is out of office she is letting loose a full scale attack on the public schools.
That being said, you are correct about the many racists in the comments section. I thought the days of racial lynching were over, but after a summer of reading comments at philly.com, I'm not so sure. These racists just gave Ackerman fodder to play the race card to advance her agenda.— tom-104 - Ogbonna:
1/3 of all tax dollars in Pennsy come from Philadelphia? I find that hard to believe. If they are so concerned about being "underfunded", just have the state allow each district the same amount per student.— JimW - This isn't something that anyone shouldn't have expected...she's clearly vain. What's the most unbelievable thing about this entire article is the drawing at the top -- I mean, come on, add about 150 lbs to that image and it'd still be bordering on flattery.— KYS24
- "I think she came here to promote a right-wing agenda to privatize public schools"....so obvious, don't know why none of us ever saw it.— jimmymack
- You people are so stupid if you think this charade was about Ackerman as if she misuesed money! This is all a lie and a joke! For those of you who are in on this scam. This whole fiasco is a joke and a utter disgrace and you idiots will soon pay the piper for your shenanigans! Shame on you!— dwarren
- Yeah seriously -- clearly this whole thing was orchestrated by leprechauns. — KYS24
- Comment removed.
- I'd like to see the resumes for Jamilah Fraser, Shana Kemp and Elizabeth Childs. Exactly what are their backgrounds to have 6 figure salaries?— taxmannncometh
- Mr Bussie ..you are an unmitigated moron. Those of you outside of the PSD have no real idea what a bad person the Queen is. Unfortunately we still have a number of self centered vindictive Ackerman clones as principals who think their schools belong to them and only they know how to educate kids. Get rid of the nasty folks she brought in. the entire system needs to be purged and we need someone with some sense about budgets..We do not need to radically change the academics. Parents need to get off their butts and get involved in their kids education. Do not let them stay home and teach them about respect. After those lessons they will be better equipped to learn.Stop worrying about who gave the $405,000 unless you want to give them a medal for helping to rid the city of the Plague called Ackerman!!— bull****meter
- Tom104, Stop with the partisan b.s. The privatization players in Phila include, but are not limited to the following democrats: Evans, Williams, Nutter, Archie, Ackerman, Nix, Bowser....— lefty
- "...I will fight to know end..." says E. Bussie.
Maybe you can pay Arlene to teach you the difference between "no" and "know", sir.— citizen k - Petty — e_bussie
- I can only respect the integrity of this writer if he/she can do the same for the numerous criminals in this administration including the Mayor himself. This is just another way of trying to give a dog a bad name and killing it. She is as corrupt as the next person in the Nutmans administration. Moreover, how many people on this board can truly sacrifice that much money especially in a hostile situation, after all, a deal is a deal. Lot's of hypocrites here and by the way I think she is better off not being a Sup in Philadelphia. Personally, her crime is being vocal and I think she earned it.— OTITOKORO
- It should not surprise anyone that I will fight to know end to get rid of the SRC and have our school governed by the people of Philadelphia. I will fight to have our schools funded at the level both PA House and Senate agree on in 2007 and I totally adore the fire and fight of my HERO Dr. Ackerman because she stood up to the politicians and did not play ball when they told her to. Dr. Ackerman is strong and fearless and I respect the heck out people like that. Whether I agree or not and I do this was more about courage. We need more like this woman.
Again I am in the fight not just talking next I will fight for increased employment opportunities by focusing of investing in people and our great cities. So no you should not be surprised I am just getting started. I won't stop until we transform this great region. Maybe I am right, maybe not, but I have to try what about you?
Emmanuel Bussie— e_bussie - PPL like her? Be more elaborate instead of hiding behind the keyboard. If you are smarter, offer intelligent solutions. She is doing what so many others have done blatantly in the past and are still doing. Don't bring sentiments to the subject and refrain from dragging our service men into the discussion. You might want to place your commentary on a different board.— OTITOKORO
- Oh, Mike P., don't ever refer to that sewer slime Ackerman as an animal, as that is way too insulting to any animal. She is similar to the stuff I scrape out of the bottom of my sneakers, and she probably smells even worse.— Commonsense54
- All the kids need is nuns with yardsticks who aren't afraid to use them.— ivyrose321
- leftyy said, "Tom104, Stop with the partisan b.s. The privatization players in Phila include, but are not limited to the following democrats: Evans, Williams, Nutter, Archie, Ackerman, Nix, Bowser...."
I don't disagree with you. This is bipartisan corruption; Democrats in Philadelphia and Republicans in Harrisburg.
Take the fight over Mosaica and Foundations at Martin Luther King. This was just a fight over turf between two political factions in the Democratic Party. Ackerman had personal connections with the owner of Mosaica and Dwight Evans had personal connections with Foundations. This was just a fight over who gets money from privatizing the school. None of it, like all of this, had anything to do with the students education.— tom-104 - Tom104, Turf war between factions? Tom, in order to separate and understand financial interests of participants, you need to know the who's, whys and wherefores, give the PFT a call and ask to speak to Jerry Jordan. Ask him to acquaint you with Rep Evans role in sealing the fate of the teachers' union in Phila. If Jerry refuses to take your call or equivocates because what's done is done and the union is in the hands of the democrat machine, come back on and I'll personally educate you in the undoing!— lefty
- of course her fellow witches resigned. the weren't anything without the crime queen. arlene should go to jail and take her lapdog nutter with her.— etbarksdale
- At Mr. Bussie and a few other posted, you need to learn how to debate/disagree cleanly and with a baseline respect. What an example you've set for our children! That's part of the problem i.e. when adults get in the way of plain common sense. This entire Ackerman debacle is a disgrace and I agree that she and the corrupted staff needed to go! As for the commentary that this was a racially motivated move- give me a break! I don't believe those comments were made when Constance Clayton was in the same position- and I am a black woman who would be the first to defend if that were the case. At a certain point, if it looks like a duck, smells like a duck, and quacks like a duck- its a damn duck! Lots of quackery and tom-foolery going on here. And anyone who can honestly say that they are for children and then advocate for schemes and inflated salaries when we are in a war for the future of our children, well- you look like a hypocrite to me. You can't fight for children and then fight for overly-inflated salaried people when resources are depleted and poor. Makes no sense!— Champion4PhillyYouth
- Mr. Bussie, you would be better served trying to convince the students that there is a need to attend school and study so that the drain of businesses in the city might stop. We've been on a steady decline for years and it's become worse under Ackerman. The city is losing employment because we have a disgracefully uneducated pool of workers. All we've been doing if posturing and grandstanding. You have been making more heat than light. Do something besides working to keep your name in the news.— JimR
- Did Rupert Murdoch's PR department launch a guerilla PR attack to defend him? Has Mayor Nutter's PR staff defended him and his national reputation? How about Ed Rendell? (Didn't I recently read an article on this site about a staffer Nutter has hired (at taxpayer expense) to manage his national reputation? Why no outcry there? Perhaps you could explain the standards publicly to us, what is appropriate and what is not? That way we can ensure they are applied across the political spectrum to all who hold public office. Lacking specific standards, a journalist is more likely to be steered by his or her personal biases.— lswallaphilly
- That post cannot be really by Emmanuel Bussie. If it is, it explains a lot. The "conventional wisdom" by the pols about fixing the schools (and lots else in the city) is always about funding (i.e. $$$). Until their leaders confront the fact that the real issue(s) is about family stability, unwed mothers, fatherless homes, and other cultural and social values the city and its kids will continue to do the same old, same old. Thought provoking question...why do Asians consistently outperform African Americans in academic achievement? It is NOT because of money!!!— bartfr
- There's a major dynamic here at play that everyone seems to be ignoring and not writing about. Ackerman, for better or worse, wasn't playing the philly politics game in the way the embedded players wanted. She was endangering the phifdoms created over the years...and threatening some teacher union interests as an example with the promise academy stuff. Nutter and others need those votes to stay in office. Is anyone shocked that there's been article after article, rumor after rumor... and are you shocked that apparently she had some folks dedicated to getting her message out there? C— phillycaferacer11
- Emmanuel, answer me this, did you not know Ackerman had already cut a lucrative deal to leave as you were protesting on her behalf? Or did you know and not care?— annie19143
- Phillycaferacer11, Actually, AA and her prior employer have the union in tow. The SDP realizes that until most schools are privatized, it needs to throw crumbs to an already eviscerated union because it lacks the capability to replace thousands of unionized employees if there were a work stoppage. Though state legistlation permits the SDP to completely ignore the union, it recognizes the role of the union in maintaining a semblance of stability among the constantly unhappy, insecure troops. As more charters emerge, the current tit for tat relationship will dissolve, Jerry Jordan and his staff, most who are beyond retirement age, will take their pensions and disappear.— lefty
- Mr. Bussie is right. Readers, please remember that Dr. Ackerman had no vote on the SRC. ALL salaries are approved by the SRC. Also, Michael Masch is in charge of the budget--Dr. Ackerman is not an accountant, Masch is. A CBO can break you--move numbers around, not give you the right numbers, etc. Why isn't some of the ire in these comments being directed at Mr. Masch? Shouldn't you be questioning who City Paper's "two knowledgeable sources" are? Wonder if these two sources have their own agenda? Hmmm.... For instance, maybe they have been part of the old boys system at the SDP that has provided millions of dollars in contracts to cronies. Maybe these "two knowledgeable sources" benefit greatly from Dr. Ackerman not being around any more. Think about it--controlling the press is a way to control public opinion, to downplay what should be causing all of us outrage. Do you think City Paper has an agenda? The Inquirer? Having experienced the dysfunction at the SDP first hand, I can tell you that Dr. Ackerman gets it. She has called and is calling it right. As is Mr. Bussie. Follow the money trail--that is, if you can get through all the garbage that is being thrown in our faces to divert us and keep us from finding it.— tholonet
- Bussie, are you kidding? Fight for this woman? Ackerman knew she was leaving and was still negotiating her huge severance package. As she's done in other cities. Shame on anyone else who hires her. Whether she is smart or antagonistic matters not. Her arrogance and disruptiveness - and criticism of our hard-working teachers - is what has stirred the pot. I am so disappointed in the so-called leaders of our City government (that this woman has been 'rewarded' for her bad behavior)....— Kaygram
- This story is laughingly appalling. And everyone is giving the E.B. guy attention - knock it off, please. He is demented and feeds off it.— omseeker
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