Saturday’s Daily News editorial misrepresents the debate over reauthorizing Mayoral Control of our schools.
I support Mayoral Control, but the system as it exists now is far from perfect. The Commission I organized at the request of the State Legislature spent the last year meeting with over 100 stakeholders representing diverse constituencies and countless parents to determine how to improve school governance in New York City. The results of this report are to provide guidance to the legislature before the vote.
Two areas of the law that need to be revaluated are: How to include parents and other stakeholders in the governance of the schools and how to ensure real accountability and transparency at the Department of Education.
The commission detailed recommendations [pdf] for addressing these problems, including modifying the terms of the Panel on Education Policy and reestablishing school district offices. Most members of the panel would be appointed, but the Mayor would not be able to dismiss them simply for disagreement over policy. If the Mayor can’t convince his own appointees that a policy is correct, then maybe there’s something wrong with the policy. Moreover, the panel members are accountable to the officials who appoint them.
Even the Chancellor has acknowledged there should be independent oversight of the Department of Education’s budget and the data the DOE produces.
These are some of the suggested improvements to school governance. I am all for debating this issue with good will, integrity and open-mindedness.
Speaking of debates, I read this weekend that our Mayor is speaking more Spanish these days. I think the Spanish speaking community would appreciate and benefit from a Spanish language debate between me and Mayor Bloomberg on Mayoral Control. Perhaps the Daily News would sponsor it, given their clear interest in the topic.
Any takers?
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