Phila. attorney Pedro Ramos leaves post on city’s School Reform Commission

The chairman of the Philadelphia School Reform Commission, who by day

is a prominent attorney in the city, has resigned his SRC post.

Pedro A. Ramos, a former solicitor and managing director for the City of Philadelphia, and a partner in the Business Services Department at the law firm of Schnader Harrison Segal & Lewis, left his position with the SRC to attend to an unspecified family matter, according to the office of Gov. Tom Corbett.

Ramos, 48, who previously served as president of the Philadelphia Board of Education prior to a state takeover of the district, also co-chairs the higher education practice at Schnader Harrison.

The governor’s office has not yet said when a decision will be made to replace Ramos on the SRC.

“I appreciate Pedro’s hard work and dedication to guide the Philadelphia School District during these difficult times,” Corbett said in a statement. “Pedro’s well-deserved reputation and record in Philadelphia’s educational community gave him the credibility and insight to bring about change and positive reforms on behalf of the students of Philadelphia.

“While we regret to see Pedro depart the Commission, every citizen of Philadelphia has benefitted from Pedro’s spirit of public service, civic commitment and the work he has done to put our children first,” Corbett continued. “Now, our best wishes are with the Ramos family.”

Ramos, a graduate of the Universities of Pennsylvania and Michigan Law School, most recently was integral in getting Corbett’s office to release $45 million in additional education funding to the financially plagued Philadelphia School District.

In early August, the Pennsylvania Record reported that Ramos was one of four partners, and two associates, who left the law firm of Trujillo Rodriguez & Richards to join Schnader Harrison.

Ramos and his colleagues have experience in representing clients in governmental, educational, nonprofit, commercial, antitrust and securities matters, as well as in international litigation.