Posted on 06/06/2002 1:23:52 PM PDT by GeneD
Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver said he and Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg have reached an "understanding" that gives the mayor direct control of the city's schools.
"There is an understanding between the mayor and myself, and we've spoken to both the governor and Senator (Joseph) Bruno about that understanding," said Silver. "And we believe we can move forward to bring about a new era in education in the city of New York by having a Board of Education that is controlled by the mayor."
The agreement in principle, which must be approved by both houses of the state Legislature and signed by Gov. George Pataki, gives Bloomberg direct control of city schools -- a goal of New York City mayors dating back to Edward Koch more than two decades ago.
This year, however, an unusual confluence of circumstances -- most significantly, widespread public anger about the city's moribund 1.1-million pupil school system and Bloomberg's sheer force of will -- were enough to eventually close the deal after months of tense negotiations.
Most details of the plan remained unclear Thursday afternoon, but Bloomberg aides said the mayor would likely discuss the plan in detail later in the day.
Bloomberg, a Republican, made education reform one of the primary themes of his mayoral campaign last year, even after the World Trade Center attack when conventional wisdom suggested it was rebuilding -- not education -- that was on the mind of the average voter.
The public concern with the condition of schools grew so intense in fact, that state Assembly members representing the city warned Silver that voters would take their anger out at the polls if no deal to reform schools was reached.
The accord, which has been more than three months in the making, expands the Board of Education from eight to 13 members. Bloomberg will pick a new chancellor to serve on the board and will also select seven other members as well. The city's five borough presidents will continue to pick one member each.
Bloomberg had sought to strip the board of most of its authority, including setting policy, but Silver said Thursday that the board would continue to be involved in both policy-making and budgetary decisions.
The two did agree, however, to abolish 32 community school boards next June, and in the meantime, to have local school superintendents be selected directly by the chancellor.
The U.S. Justice Department, however, must approve any changes to the boards, which will likely be replaced by another entity to ensure parent participation.
Bloomberg will pick a new chancellor to serve on the board and will also select seven other members as well. The city's five borough presidents will continue to pick one member each.... local school superintendents be selected directly by the chancellor.
Where did they find the basis for this plan? The Iraqi Constitution? (Seriously -- read it if you don't believe me)
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In a historic deal and a major triumph for the mayor, Mayor Michael Bloomberg has won control of city schools.
Bloomberg made the deal with Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver at a closed-door meeting at City Hall Thursday morning.
Final legislation must be approved by Albany. It is expected to be signed by the end of the week and could go into effect as early as Monday.
The plan would allow the mayor to choose the schools chancellor and would turn the Board of Education into a 13-member advisory board of which the mayor would choose eight members. The remaining five members of the board would be parents.
There are some questions still to be answered, including who would pick the schools superintendent and whether the mayor could pick a chancellor without credentials.
Bloomberg is reportedly seeking to eliminate a stipulation that requires a state waiver for a candidate for chancellor who lacks education credentials.
The mayor has also promised not to cut school spending except during a financial crisis.
For more than 25 years, New York City mayors have been trying to win control of the city’s schools. Bloomberg is the first to succeed.
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