With failure of Albany to extend mayoral control of schools, school boards may come back to NYC
Fears of the return of dysfunction and corruption
With the failure of the state Legislature Wednesday night to approve the extension of mayoral control of the New York City school system by the end of its formal session, the city could return to the old Board of Education system, with 32 different community school boards. The system, often dysfunctional and sometimes corrupt, was overturned by the Bloomberg administration more than a decade ago.
While the state Assembly approved mayoral control months ago, Senate Republicans have insisted on linking the extension to an expansion of the number of charter schools that can open in New York City.
Officials have until June 30 to return to Albany to undo the expiration of mayoral control — something that Speaker Carl Heastie says is not likely to happen. If not, the old seven-member Board of Education, appointed by the mayor and the five borough presidents, would have to be reconstituted, along with the 32 community school boards.
On Wednesday, Mayor Bill de Blasio, a former school board member in Brooklyn’s District 15, said at a press conference that he feared the return of the local school boards would mark the return of corruption.