Our city is at a critical juncture on the vital issue of the future of our schools.

This is not a vague or perennial matter of wringing hands over the fate of public education.

This is a real time issue with a quick time solution:

Keep Paul Vallas.

The city’s future is intertwined with the quality of our schools. The rising quality of our schools has been directly tied to Paul Vallas’s tenure as chief executive officer of the School District of Philadelphia.

Paul Vallas is without contradiction the most capable leader of a major urban school district in the nation.

Retaining him should be a slam dunk. 

The School Reform Commission has done an admirable job in guiding the city’s public education since the state-city partnership was established in 2001. The SRC’s best decision has been to hire and support Paul Vallas. The Commission would be well served to continue this record of excellence by renewing Mr. Vallas’s contract. Now.

Running an urban school system takes talent, courage, political acumen, PR genius, and wide ranging competence. Talent is scarce at the top. Mr. Vallas has said the uncertainty is wearing on him. The grim turnover rate atop our largest public education systems illustrates that uncertainty over the Vallas tenure in Philadelphia would provide a golden opportunity for some other city system.

Any $2 billion a year operation needs a succession plan for internal continuity, not a “Which way will we go today?” approach. Sometimes a change is forced by extraordinary or unexpected circumstances.

This is not one of those times.

An abrupt change of leadership and direction would be a disservice to our children, to the broad family of the School District, and to the entire community.

In 2007, Philadelphia will elect a new mayor. That campaign will certainly include vigorous and healthy debate on our civic priorities, values and direction, with educational policy a significant part of the discussion. But against that backdrop, a dithering scramble to recruit and hire a new school system CEO would disruptive, harmful and most of all, unnecessary.

It is unnecessary because the incumbent can be evaluated on a tough and precise standard: results.

Test scores? Yes. Nationally scaled tests show improvement for fifth and eighth graders in Philadelphia, although high school juniors still have ground to cover.

Graduation rates? Still too low, but rising steadily. High school graduation is the gateway to college, an aspiration that Vallas has instilled as the norm for all our students.

Capital improvements? It’s win-win. Vallas has created a $1.7 billion construction program – along a daring, small-school model – for a system that has long been considered decrepit and bloated. Those new and smaller schools are being built and opened – including schools like Microsoft High that reach out for creative partnerships with business, nonprofits and our finest institutions. 

Other reform? Count the ways: Benchmark testing every six weeks, a standardized curriculum for our all-too-fluid student body, closely monitored charter schools and a reduction in violent incidents (although too much violence remains).

Improving teacher quality and professional development is a Vallas initiative that makes all other reforms possible. Hiring teachers with the appropriate certification is now automatic, and often overlooked as a path to excellence.

My vision of Philadelphia is a city that will maximize opportunities for all of our citizens. That vision is only possible with quality schools.

All Philadelphians need to speak up. Let the School Reform Commission, your elected officials and others with influence know that you want Paul Vallas and his special mix of stability, vision and results to remain at the helm of our schools.

Results matter. But the greatest achievement of the Vallas administration cannot be measured so precisely. It’s hope. Hope for continued improvement in our schools. Hope for better opportunities for our children. Hope for the future of Philadelphia.