Philadelphia School Head Is Given $1 Million Buyout . . . And Then Files For Unemployment Benefits

[alp227]

Former Philadelphia schools superintendent Arlene Ackerman is the center of a firestorm this week after she accepted a roughly $1 million buyout from the city and then promptly filed for unemployment benefits. The outrage over the unemployment claim may be better directed at the school district’s handing out obscene salaries and buyouts.

School District spokesman Fernando Gallard confirmed that Ackerman has demanded state unemployment benefits and , as part of her $905,000 buyout, the School Reform Commission agreed not to contest any unemployment claims she might file.

The buyout reportedly included $500,000 from the district and $405,000 from anonymous private contributions. I wonder how the private donors feel about the money going to a person who still files unemployment claims after pocketing a cool million.

full: http://jonathanturley.org/2011/11/30/philadelphia-school-head-is-given-1-million-buyout-and-then-files-for-unemployment-benefits/

[KamaAina]

1. "the school district’s handing out obscene salaries and buyouts."

Not to teachers, I'd wager. Just paper-pushing desk warmers.

[rfranklin]

2. The money from private sources makes this suspicious...

Are they trying to cover up some nastiness or just getting her out to put in a corporate shill?

[EC]

3. When she files for UE

wouldn't see have to list that $$ as a serverance? To which the state would say she doesn't qualify for UE?

[Ruby the Liberal]

4. PA doesn't currently take into account vacation or severance pay.

I think that is changing though.