This article was originally published in The Notebook. In August 2020, The Notebook became Chalkbeat Philadelphia.
The mayor will launch the process to appoint the nine members of the Board of Education on Wednesday, as required at the beginning of his new term. The appointment process begins with a meeting of the nominating panel, followed by a two-week application window.
The panel reviews the applicants and selects 27 candidates for Mayor Kenney to choose from later this month. The tentative timeline is:
- Jan. 8: Nominating Panel convenes
- Jan. 23: Board of Education application closes
- February: Nominating Panel recommends 27 candidates; date to be determined
- February: Mayor shares his nominations with 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,” Kenney said in a statement. “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.”
Individuals who are interested in applying to the Board of Education can submit their applications online. Paper applications will be available at City Hall, Room 115, or at the School District headquarters, 440 N. Broad St., beginning Jan. 8.
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, 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 and 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