Philadelphia SRC Chairman Opposes Unions, Illegally Removed from Office 

Former Governor Wolf removed Bill Green, former Democratic City Councilman,  from his position as the Chairman of the School Reform Commission (SRC). Bill claims he was removed illegally.

Philadelphia Teacher’s Union Opposes Bill’s Appointment to Council to Better Schools

The state of Pennsylvania created the SRC as a local mechanism for restoring order to school districts in “distress”. They determined policy and contract negotiations for the Philadelphia School District, effectively replacing the local school board.

The SRC appointed Bill as the chairman in January 2014. Above all, Bill supported charter schools, introducing vouchers, lengthening the school day and year, and making it easier to fire underperforming teachers.

His appointment drew the ire of both the Pennsylvania Federation of Teachers (PFT) and  the Philadelphia Coalition Advocating for Public Schools (PCAPS) almost. The PFT released a statement emphatically stating their concerns over his policies. Following PFT’s statement, the PCAPS issued a media advisory. The advisory stated they would “chant, hold signs, and turn their backs on Green” at his first meeting. Union members continually interrupted the meeting, throwing boos at Bill and meeting him with derision, and mocking him, even when he offered to meet with parents and teachers to hear their concerns.

The relationship between Bill, PFT, and the Philadelphia School District continued to spiral as Bill’s actions drew the attention of the American Federation of Teachers (AFT).

Then, PFT began organizing protests against SRC. During one of those protests, AFT President Randi Weingarten took the opportunity to plea for the crowd to elect Tom Wolf as the next Governor of Pennsylvania.

In a meeting where Bill, a big proponent for charter schools and whose position is vehemently opposed by both PFT and now-Governor Wolf, PCAPS caused such a large disturbance that four people were arrested. Afterward, the SRC ended up approving five charter schools that day.

Former Gov. Wolf sides with PFT, Illegally Removes Bill

Less than two weeks later, on March 1, 2015, Governor Wolf illegally removed Bill as the Chairman of the SRC. Governor Wolf stated his disappointment in Bill’s support for more privately-run and publicly-financed schools, despite Governor Wolf emphasizing his opposition. Marjoie Neff  replaced Bill “because she supports [Wolf’s] vision for the School District of Philadelphia.”

Legally, the only way to remove the SRC Chairman is by proof of malfeasance or misfeasance, two things Bill was never accused of. The Fairness Center, on behalf of Bill, filed a lawsuit against Gov. Wolf to regain his seat on the SRC.

However, the Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania ruled in Gov. Wolf’s favor, despite acknowledging that Bill was removed without cause. 

The Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania sustained the respondents’ preliminary objections and dismissed the petitioners’ application for summary relief and amended petition for review.

Documents

• Brief in Support of Answer to New Matter – October 7, 2016
• Brief in Opposition to Wolf’s Preliminary Objections – October 11, 2016
• Preliminary Objections – October 11, 2016
• Opinion & Order – December 4, 2017

April 19, 2016: “In an effort to contribute more effectively…I am taking action to return…as chair of the School Reform Commission. I expect and understand that this will elicit a chorus of boos from some. [I] want to explain both the legal basis and the reason for taking action now.”

April 19, 2016: “Wolf was said to not want any new charter schools approved. At the time, Green, a former Philadelphia City Councilman, had said he planned to challenge the governor’s authority to make such a move […] His challenge is coming now.”