PHILADELPHIA – The City of Philadelphia will launch the formal process to appoint the nine members of the Board of Education of the School District of Philadelphia, as required at the beginning of a new mayoral term. The appointment process will begin with the convening of the Educational Nominating Panel on Wednesday, followed by a two-week application window.
The Nominating Panel will consider applicants for the Board and submit a final list of names for Mayor Kenney’s consideration later this month. The tentative timeline is as follows:
- January 8: Nominating Panel convenes
- January 24: Board of Education application closes
- February: Nominating Panel to recommend 27 candidates to Mayor; date to be determined (Deadline February 18).
- February: Mayor transmits Board of Education nominations to City Council; date to be determined
- May 1: Appointed members of the Board of Education begin their four-year terms
“This will be the first four-year term for Board of Education members since we returned our public schools to local control,” said Mayor Kenney. “Nothing is more important than the education and well-being of our city’s children, and an experienced and dedicated Board of Education is vital to the success of our public education system. I look forward to working with the Nominating Panel and City Council during the appointment process.”
The Nominating Panel’s convening meeting will take place at 12 p.m. on Wednesday, January 8 in City Hall (Mayor’s Reception Room, Room 202).
Individuals who are interested in applying to the Board of Education can do so using an online form. Paper applications will be available at City Hall, Room 115, or at the School District’s central offices at 440 N. Broad Street beginning January 8. The deadline for applications is January 24, 2020.
As required by the Education Supplement to the Home Rule Charter, the Mayor shall appoint and convene the Educational Nominating Panel as soon as practicable after the Mayor’s term of office begins. The 13-member Nominating Panel will recommend possible Board of Education candidates to the Mayor, who will make appointments subject to City Council’s advice and consent.
The Nominating Panel members are:
- Bonnie Camarda, Director of Partnerships, The Salvation Army of Eastern Pennsylvania and Delaware.
- Dan Fitzpatrick, President, Citizens Bank of Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware
- Peter Gonzales, President and CEO, Welcoming Center for New Pennsylvanians
- Derren Mangum, Director of Institutional Giving, Opera Philadelphia
- Maura McCarthy, Executive Director, Fairmount Park Conservancy
- Barbara Moore Williams, educational consultant
- Stephanie Naidoff, board member, Fund for the School District of Philadelphia
- Ivy Olesh, Executive Director, Playworks
- Douglas Oliver, Vice President, Government & External Affairs, PECO
- Kimberly Pham, community activist and member of the National Council of Young Leaders
- Wendell Pritchett, Provost, University of Pennsylvania
- Sean Vereen, President, Steppingstone Scholars
- Rosslyn Wuchinich, President, UNITE HERE Local 274