African-American former Philadelphia schools superintendent Arlene Ackerman, who was given a nearly $1-million buyout earlier in 2011, has applied for unemployment

School District spokesman Fernando Gallard has confirmed that Ackerman wants to collect state unemployment benefits. “The former superintendent did apply for unemployment,” Gallard said. This comes after taxpayers funded a $905,000 buyout when she was shown the door in August 2011. As part of her separation agreement, the School Reform Commission agreed not to contest any unemployment claims she might file. The news isn’t going over well with Michael Lodise, the head of the school police officers’ union who fought for several months to get unemployment compensation – and eventually succeeded – for 120 school police officers laid off in June 2011. “These people were really hurting, really needed it,” Lodise recalls. “And here’s a woman with almost a million dollars, and she wants unemployment besides. I just don’t understand it.” Based on her former salary, Ackerman would be eligible for the state maximum of $573 a week. Ackerman had no comment, referring questions to her attorney, Dean Weitzman. Weitzman said that Ackerman qualifies for unemployment benefits because she is unemployed and was asked to leave the school district but not fired for cause. It will be up to the state unemployment compensation board to approve Ackerman’s claim.