School District: Ackerman to Receive $905,000 Buyout (Updated)

Updated: 4:15 p.m.

The School District of Philadelphia made it official at 11:30 a.m.—Superintendent Arlene Ackerman is stepping down from her position.

The district said Ackerman will receive a $905,000 buyout that will be both publicly and privately financed. More than half the money—$500,000—will come from the School Reform Commission and the school district, while $405,000 will come from private sources.

Ackerman's contract runs through June 30, 2014, which is why the buyout is necessary. She received a one-year extension earlier this year.

Any money from that extension, according to the district, will go toward nine Promise Academies.

"That is the best way to finalize the separation agreement because it still keeps the focus and emphasis on the children, as it should be," Ackerman said in a news release Monday.

SRC Chairman Robert Archie praised Ackerman in the release, saying she helped turn around schools, increase graduation rates and raise test scores. She also implemented Imagine 2014, which is the district's five-year strategic plan.

Deputy Superintendent Leroy Nunery will take over for Ackerman, as .

Mayor Michael Nutter also spoke in the release.

“She took on many of the deep-seated, systemic issues that have been facing our schools for decades, such as low-performing schools long neglected, the right-sizing of the district’s aged facilities and new accountability measures for staff," he said.

And Ackerman also made a statement: "I am truly grateful for having had the opportunity and honor to serve the children and parents of Philadelphia," she said in the release.

The school district did not schedule a news conference for Monday on the matter. But Mayor Michael Nutter spoke to the press Monday afternoon, and Fox 29 carried it live on its website.

Nutter said the SRC had made the decision to let Ackerman go and had run the negotiation and buyout process surrounding her departure. But he said he was pleased with what had been accomplished.

"I did agree with the ultimate decision," he said.

The mayor didn't speculate on who might take the job permanently. He did say he "made a couple calls" to try to encourage private sources to give money to Ackerman's buyout to try and reduce the public contribution.

Philadelphia Federation of Teachers President Jerry Jordan . But his remarks took on a decidedly different tone from the mayor's. Nutter took time to praise Ackerman's tenure, and Jordan did not.

"In the wake of the biggest budget deficit, the most significant program cuts and largest employee layoff in the more than 30 years, a change in leadership is a step in the right direction and is welcome news to the teachers and support staff who have been disregarded and disrespected repeatedly by this administration," he said in a news release.