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A state law that gives Mayor Michael Bloomberg control over the city schools' governing body is bound to expire soon. At a forum held Tuesday morning in Midtown’s Manhattan Institute, Schools Chancellor Joel Klein said that such a law benefited the school system and deserved to be renewed.
The law in question replaced the Board of Education with the Panel for Educational Policy. Bloomberg appoints eight of the 13 members - leading to criticism that the panel rubber-stamps mayoral initiatives like ending social promotions.
Klein said that the mayor’s increased authoritative power has led to a rise in city schools’ test scores and graduation rates. He also said that while schools do need improvement, they are on the right track.
"If we abandon mayoral control, and take the mayor out of the ability to take on the tough and often politically controversial challenges, we will be making a huge mistake," said Klein.
Parents and officials at the meeting weighed the pros and cons of the mayor's influence.
"We have today a mayoral dictatorship, not mayoral control. I believe in mayoral control with an independent board," said Diane Ravitch of NYU's Steinhardt School.
Albany lawmakers will vote on renewing the law later this month.
