Ackerman's Buyout Package Worth $905k

PHILADELPHIA - The School Reform Commission will be asked to approve a $905,000 lump sum payout to departing Superintendent Arlene Ackerman, the School District of Philadelphia says.

That includes $500,000 from the district and $405,000 has been committed from anonymous private contributions. The deal will be presented for ratification at the SRC's meeting scheduled for Wednesday.

Further details will be released at that time, the district says.

Word came Monday morning that Ackerman is leaving her position.

The embattled superintendent told Fox 29 News on Monday afternoon that her attorney has advised her not to speak at this time. She gave only a brief statement: "I'm leaving with the courage of my convictions. I truly believe I am leaving this place better for the children of Philadelphia. I'm at peace."

The school district says it will not hold a news conference.

"This decision, as difficult as it was for Dr. Ackerman, is consistent with her history, as well as recognition that for the district to best move forward, it must do so with new leadership," said Robert Archie Jr., chairman of the city-state commission that oversees the schools.

After sources said Mayor Michael Nutter would speak Monday morning, he appeared well after a scheduled 10 a.m. event and refused to answer reporters' questions about Ackerman. He's now expected to talk at 2:30 p.m. at City Hall.

Watch Live @ 2:30 P.M.: Mayor Nutter's News Conference

Fox 29's Sheinelle Jones spoke to Ackerman's attorney, Dean Weitzman, by phone while he was on a cruise Monday morning, and he confirmed that his client is stepping down.

Weitzman said Ackerman loves the city and really wanted to turn the schools around. Although she wanted to hang on, Weitzman said she felt that if she didn't have support then she couldn't do it.

Weitzman said he believes a combination of factors led to Ackerman's decision, and he suggested she would leave withat least the amount of money due on her contract.

Earlier this year, the SRC exercised an option in Ackerman's contract to keep her on until 2014.

Talks have been going on for weeks behind closed doors to try and ease Ackerman's departure, according to sources.

The news of Ackerman's departure was first reported Monday morning by Philadelphia Inquirer education reporter Kristen Graham .

School district administrators attended a meeting Monday morning with Deputy Superintendent Leroy Nunery, who it was announced will serve as Ackerman's interim replacement.

Nunery was a finalist for the superintendent position with Ackerman when she was hired in June 2008.

Ackerman previously led school districts in San Francisco and Washington D.C.

Despite increasing student test scores over the past nine school years, including Ackerman's three years here, her tenure has been marred by controversy, from the violence against Asian-American students at South Philadelphia High School to a dispute over a contract to install security cameras at that school being shifted to a minority contractor. There was criticism of her management style as being arrogant, the very large budget shortfall, and Ackerman's poor performance before city council as she tried to get the city to contribute more.

Perhaps most detrimental to the relationship between the city and its schools Ackerman announced she was restoring full-day kindergarten with funds from other sources as the mayor headed to Harrisburg to seek more money.

Nutter later demanded and received a new information sharing agreement with the school district as a condition of hiking taxes to help close the budget gap.

Nutter declined to give Ackerman a vote of support during an interview Friday with Fox 29's Jeff Cole , saying that it was a matter between Ackerman and the School Reform Commission.

Likewise, Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett has been silent on the matter , despite his office also being responsibile for the appointment of some SRC members.

Stay with Fox 29 News and MyFoxPhilly.com for more on this breaking news story.