PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — It's official. The Board of Education for the School District of Philadelphia signed off Thursday on Dr. Tony Watlington to be the city’s next superintendent.
Before unanimously approving Watlington’s five-year, $340,000-per-year contract, board members praised him as the right leader at the right time.
Board member Reginald Streater said he believed Watlington would continue the work of outgoing superintendent William Hite.
“I believe that Dr. Hite has righted a ship that I will argue was sinking. I think he’s plugged up a lot of holes. Now we actually have a ship that can actually go somewhere and I think we’re headed in the right direction,” said Streater.
“I think Dr. Watlington, with our support, can help get us there.”
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Fellow board member Mallory Fix Lopez said that as a parent, she believed Watlington brings the experience and creative vision that the city needs.
“Philadelphia doesn’t like change. Most people don’t like change. But we need change,” Fix Lopez said.
“Our young people deserve change to make sure that they get the high-quality education that they deserve.”
Watlington, who is still working at the Rowan-Salisbury School District in North Carolina, joined the board meeting remotely.
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“I’m looking forward to visiting as early as next week and being present as often as I can in advance of my June 16 start date,” he said.
‘“I’m looking forward to working in partnership with all of you and all of the many very fine citizens of Philadelphia.”
Watlington thanked the board for having confidence in him.
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The Board of Education chose Watlington over John Davis from Baltimore City Public Schools and Krish Mohip from the Illinois State Board of Education. None of the three had direct ties to Philadelphia.
The board has not chosen an internal candidate for superintendent since 1982.
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