May 9, 2007 -- Schools Chancellor Joel Klein yesterday laid out a funding plan for city schools - and, in so doing, made clear just what City Hall paid to buy peace from labor and allied radical groups.
His plan includes funds to cover a deal announced last month with teachers' union boss Randi Weingarten and her radical pals. Officials say this won't cost more than "a few million" dollars.
But for how long did Weingarten stay bought? Not so long, it seems.
Her remarks last Saturday, in a speech at the union's spring conference, suggest that the chancellor better hold onto his receipt.
She hinted broadly that she'll fight against renewal of the vital legislation - set to expire in 2009 - that gives City Hall control of the schools.
There was no broad declaration of intent. There never is.
Just as there is no appeasing Weingarten, the Working Families Party or ACORN - concessions only embolden them.
Yet Klein & Co. made the concessions anyway.
The funding plan Klein originally announced was to ensure that similar schools get similar funding, starting this fall - and to make it easier for school brass to move experienced teachers to where they're most needed.
Until now, seniority basically ruled; changing the practice could cost certain schools - and, by extension, teachers - a bundle.
Klein vowed to minimize the blow, but Weingarten & Co. insisted that no school lose even one penny under the new plan.
City Hall gave in.
But Weingarten still went on the attack Saturday.
"Mayoral control was supposed to ensure top-to-bottom accountability, but . . . it seems that the only ones being held accountable are those who work in schools," Weingarten said.
"Well in advance of 2009, when mayoral control automatically sunsets, we must have a real debate about what type of school governance will foster effective teaching and learning in New York City."
Translation: Weingarten is already plotting to wrestle authority away from City Hall in '09 - and to give it, no doubt, to . . . her and her friends.
As for moving teachers, she said: "Involuntary transfers . . . remains a line in the sand for us."
She also took a swing at us: "When editorials tried to divide [parents] from the union, by playing the all-the-UFT-wants-is-more-members card, parents didn't take the bait. 'This is not about [the UFT],' parents said. 'It's not even about us. It's about our children.' "
Indeed, we've often made the point that the union's main interest is . . . itself.
There's nothing wrong with that.
But Weingarten should be honest: For her and her colleagues, children don't come first; teachers do.
Let's be clear: City Hall may have believed it bought labor peace for "a few million" dollars. No such thing.
Weingarten made that clear enough on Saturday.
