Albany Legislators Take Aim at Mayoral Control of City School System

Furor among some parents and elected officials over the appointment of Cathie Black as schools chancellor may have far-reaching consequences on one of the Bloomberg administration's chief policy victories — mayoral control of the city's public school system.

, D-Whitestone, joined future Albany colleagues this week in calling for more oversight over decisions made in regards to city schools at City Hall.

"At the very least, I believe mayoral control needs to be tweaked," Avella said. 

Speaking hours before an eight-member panel on Tuesday rejected a waiver for Cathie Black, Avella expressed confidence that the advisory body would ultimately rule in favor of critics of the mayor's pick to run city schools.

"She is clearly unqualified to run the city schools system," Avella said. 

Led by state Sen. Eric Adams, D-Brooklyn, at least ten lawmakers from districts throughout the city proposed legislation to amend education law to bar the Commissioner of State Education from granting waivers to persons without "necessary professional or educational qualifications."

Locally, debate over Black's appointment heated up with Community District Education Council 26 president Rob Caloras .

"To prevent the further deterioration of the education system, we must have a Chancellor who is not only a good manager, but an educator," Caloras wrote in a letter dated Nov. 18.

In an email response, Glen Oaks Village president and former Assembly candidate Bob Friedrich argued against what he called "hasty conclusions" about Black's qualifications to lead the city's 1.1 million schoolchildren.

Black is a former executive at media giant Hearst Corp. with no experience as a classroom teacher or schools administrator.

In recent days, Black received a flurry of endorsements from such diverse sources as actress Whoopi Goldberg and American Express chairman and CEO Kenneth Chenault.

"It is imperative that the progress continue and New York City schools keep moving forward," a letter from city business leaders reads. "We strongly believe that Cathie Black has the skills, experience, and leadership ability to achieve that goal, and we urge you to grant the waiver allowing her to serve as chancellor of the New York City public school system."

However, the ultimate decision as to Black's future will be made by State Education Commissioner David Steiner, who is expected to make a decision on the waiver before Jan. 1.