Come On Arlene

Who the hell do you think you are?

by Jeffrey C. Billman

Attn: Arlene Ackerman
From: Soapboxer
Re: I don't think you understand how this works

Hello there, Mrs. Ackerman. I haven't yet had the pleasure of making your acquaintance, and really, that's my fault. I've been in town almost a year now. And, before we begin, I have to say, I don't envy you your job, not one little bit. Running a school district with this many entrenched problems, with an atmosphere in which, at least in some neighborhoods, failure is almost expected? No, thank you. I had dinner once, in 2007, with your predecessor, Paul Vallas — I so happened to be dating his niece at the time, long before I even conceived of moving to Philly. This was just after he announced he was leaving for New Orleans; I got the distinct impression that he wouldn't miss playing the political games your position requires.

I read that lengthy profile Philadelphia magazine did on you last year, too, and a couple of things popped out: You have a healthy amount of pride (no reason you shouldn't), and you, too, don't enjoy the requisite political dances.

Who can blame you? It's easy for City Council members to dress you down in public hearings, but it's your neck on the line if graduation rates don't improve. Heck, you came out of retirement for this job, and to take on the considerable challenge of reviving a miserable school system in an era of declining tax revenue. You deserve their — and our — respect, no doubt about it. And, in just two years, you've seen some success: Reading and math scores are up; violence is down.

On the other hand, let's face an uncomfortable reality: Yours is a very public position, and criticism comes with the territory. And you've hardly been immune. Your handling of that mess at South Philadelphia High School left much to be desired, for instance [Cover Story, "The Fall Guy," Isaiah Thompson, March 18, 2010].

But it was your enormous April bonus — $65,000, on top of your $338,000 salary (higher than superintendent's salaries at the nation's three largest school districts), a taxpayer-funded car, BlackBerry and almost seven weeks (!) of paid vacation — that really raised everyone's hackles. Surely, you can see their point: After all, political officials all over the country, including Gov. Ed Rendell, are forgoing pay increases in solidarity with the less fortunate in these cash-strapped times. But not you.

Never mind that: See, I'm not as outraged over your paycheck as everyone else seems to be. Yeah, it's a lot of money, but if you're as good as advertised, and if you make our schools (and, consequently, our city) better, the fat salary is worth it.

Or rather, let me rephrase. I wouldn't be as outraged, except for this: When news organizations sought, under this state's Right to Know Act, the criteria the School Reform Commission used to determine your bonus, you turned them down. And then, a few weeks ago, you issued an order shielding the salary information for all of your administrators from public view — even if the requesting party is the City Controller's Office, which needs it to audit your office.

Um, ma'am: Who the hell do you think you are?

Really, I don't think you understand how this works: You work for us: me, my wife (for the record, not a Vallas) and our 1.5 million wage- and property-taxpaying friends.

See, I really don't care how much money you make. I don't even care what bonuses you get (although, your upcoming $100,000 retention bonus? Wow). But I'll be damned if I stay silent while you try to hide the public information that we are entitled to have. We pay your salary. And if you can prove to us that you've earned it, I'm sure we'll keep doing so. But you're not entitled to anything; we, however, are entitled to whatever information we deem necessary to assess your stewardship of our school system.

The fact that you would even think about attempting to conceal public records from public scrutiny — whatever your excuse — is, quite frankly, insulting. Your arrogance is galling. I suggest you get over yourself.

By the way, last week this newspaper put in a Right to Know request for your entire payroll, because the law says we can, regardless of whether we have a good reason. Turn us down and we'll see you in court. And we'll win.

Have a nice day.

(jeffrey.billman@citypaper.net)