Ackerman's games

JUST A FEW days after the release of state test results that Supt. Arlene Ackerman portrayed as a sign of how much good she has done for the San Francisco schools, Ackerman was back to the sort of behavior that has driven a growing number of critics to suggest it might be time for her to leave. This is getting out of control, and the school board has to put an end to it.

In a closed session Aug. 30, Ackerman, according to published reports, effectively demanded a written guarantee that the board members would be nice to her and let her have her way – or she'd take her ball and go home. It was a childish display, the sort of thing Ackerman's employees in the classroom wouldn't tolerate for a second.

In this case, Ackerman's ball is a $375,000 severance package that's guaranteed to her even if she walks out on her contract. All she has to do is declare that she finds her relations with the board to be "incompatible," and she gets to leave, free and clear, with a huge chunk of desperately needed district money.

The board should give Ackerman a clear message: If she is willing to make some major changes, then the board will work with her. If not, she should submit her resignation. And if she wants to leave on a positive note and send a signal that education is really her top priority, she ought to decline the $375,000 severance and turn that back to the classrooms. And while her contract states that she must stay through the school year, the board should waive that, and Ackerman should step aside as soon as possible so the district can start finding her replacement.

The school board has to get over this divisive mess and move on too. If Ackerman quits, her critics must be gracious, thank her for her work, and wish her well. Her supporters must refrain from finger-pointing and blame. There's a troubled but improving school system to run, and the sooner everyone involved gets back to that job, the better.