From our comrade, Inquirer reporter Sue Snyder:
At the Philadelphia School Reform Commission meeting last week, Commissioner James Gallagher said the district should consider out-of-towners when selecting a new chief executive officer.
“Philadelphians may not have all the answers,” he told the audience. “What you have to look at is the best candidate, whether that person is 6’3”, 5’3” over 200 pounds or 108 pounds. And I don’t give a blank blank blank where they come from as long as they’re the most qualified person in this country."
He continued on and took a shot at former Chief Executive Officer Paul Vallas, a Chicago native who was at odds with Gallagher by the time he left the district last June.
“If the person comes from Philadelphia, so be it,” Gallagher said. “If they come from San Francisco, or Boston, or Atlanta - notice I didn’t say Chicago - …”
The audience laughed.
“Or Chicago,” Gallagher continued, ”we’ll be very, very happy.”
The commission hopes to select a new schools chief by the end of December.
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