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What Does Panel's Vote Against Cathie Black Mean?

Yesterday, a state education panel of eight voted 4-2 against granting Cathie Black a waiver that would allow her to become the city's Schools Chancellor, with the other two voting "not at this time." And while many parents and politicians would love to believe this is the last of the drama, it's far from over. Not only does state Education Commissioner David Steiner have sole power to grant or deny a waiver (he will take the panel's recommendation into consideration), but the "not at this time" votes open up a few other options.

The vote could mean that either Bloomberg would have to submit another waiver, better highlighting Black's education experience and plans for the school system, or he would have to appoint a Chief Academic Officer to serve under her. Steiner also reportedly told panel members that he had a preference for a vote of "not at this time," but said, "I will weigh their advice and insight as I consider the decision before me."

Though the door is still wide open for Black to become Chancellor, critics are pouncing on Bloomberg for what they're calling a failed appointment. "People have interpreted mayoral control to mean that Bloomberg gets his way, but it seems the commissioner and the people he appointed didn't see it that way," said professor Pedro Noguera. "He went into this by himself, and in fact it was revealed that the emperor had no clothes," said Baruch College political scientist Doug Muzzio. And Leonie Haimson of Class Size Matters told NY1, "Clearly the panelists heard the voices of parents, educators and community members around the city and agreed with us that she wasn't qualified to become the head of the nation's largest school system." Steiner could make his decision about the waiver as early as today.

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Comments [rss]

  • The teaching profession will never be the same!!

  • If the president can be impeached, why not the mayor??? He has abused his power long enough I am an educator of 20 years and cannot believe the manipulation of facts and data. The UFT and the parents need to stand and fight. Trust me your kids are not getting an education and the poor special ed self contained students, they have no future

  • potsmoker

    FTB, aka Faaack DAT Beach.

    i hope she gets granted the position, then learns that taking a limo to work, reading cosmo while a whole team of assistants get your dry cleaning & coffee, and leaving early while sending business jargon positive thoughts memo's from teh blackberry while in the hamptons aint cutting it for running a scholl system.

  • The Great Arturo Bandini

    Golly! Just tell me where to send the check!

  • Resistance is Futile. Bow down to the New World Order.

  • The Great Arturo Bandini

    I'd laugh if it didn't seem so true. If you had told me 15 years ago, I wouldn't have believed half of the abuses of power that have occurred (Federal, State and Local)over the past 10 years.

    http://www.bksouthie.com/

  • SHAME ON YOU ALL. she is qualified. She is RICH, WHITE and corporate. She is therefore infallible and must rule us peasants.

  • The Great Arturo Bandini

    Don't forget blond. You get bonus points for that.

    http://www.bksouthie.com/

  • GalBklyn

    My bet is that Bloomberg & his followers dig in - some hot off the presses evidence:

    http://media-newswire.com/release_1134632.html.

    It's beyond me how people can believe she has the qualifications to run a complex educational system. She doesn't have a bit of substantial knowledge to even begin to understand the needs of its constituents.

    He is too arrogant for words. Time someone told him that he is a public servant, not King George.

  • Wza

    Well said.

    I Signed.

    :)

  • link doesn't work and it is more Queen Elizabeth than King George.

  • GalBklyn

    that's strange... must have been the period after the link. try it this way...

    http://media-newswire.com/release_1134632.html

    I actually like the King G. analogy. Especially how it ended!!

  • Current and former elected officials who have expressed support for Cathie Black include former Mayors Dinkins, Koch and Giuliani; former City Council Speaker Peter Vallone, Sr.; Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz and Staten Island Borough President James Molinaro; State Senators Malcolm A. Smith, Carl Kruger, Andrew Lanza, Marty Golden and Craig Johnson; and City Council Members James Vacca, Michael C. Nelson, James Gennaro, Dominic M. Recchia, Jr., and Joel Rivera.

    oh yeah, the SAME ASSHOLES SUCH AS JAMES VACCA FROM THE BRONX, who supported blomberg overturning term limits and his slush funds. vote VACCA out.

  • Phil

    Here's a petition that can be signed urging Commissioner Steiner to reject

    http://www.change.org/petitions/view/our_battle_is_not_over

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