Steiner Explains Why He Waivered Black In 12 Page Letter

Yesterday evening, after a drawn out decision-making process full of panels, waivers and lawsuit threats, state Education Commissioner David Steiner approved a waiver that allows Cathie Black to serve as city Schools Chancellor, with Shael Polakow-Suransky serving as the city's first chief academic officer. And in case you question his judgment, he has taken the time to explain why he thinks Black is right for the job.

In a 12 page letter [pdf], Steiner outlines the requirements for becoming Chancellor, and notes that, "Ms. Black, however, does not meet the graduate coursework or experience requirements." But after reviewing her acquired "knowledge and skills," Steiner determined, "Despite her lack of direct experience in education, I find that Ms. Black’s exceptional record of successfully leading complex organizations and achievement of excellence in her endeavors, warrant certification for service in the New York City School District."

Steiner's letter included almost word-for-word what Bloomberg has been arguing, that "Ms. Black has demonstrated a skill critical to Chancellorship, namely the ability to lead a large multi-faceted organization confronting enormous challenges and complexities." And though Polakow-Suransky will be in charge of "the administration and supervision of the district's instructional programs," Bloomberg insists that there can only be one. He said at a press conference yesterday, "There will be one person in charge. Make no mistake about that."

Steiner's decision, despite his acknowledgment of Black's shortcomings, could fuel arguments from people like civil rights lawyer Norman Siegel, who said at a rally on Sunday, “We believe Cathie doesn't meet [state] requirements. The commissioner will have to justify why he has given the waiver and if the justification has no basis in the law. We can go to court." State lawmakers still plan to sue to block the appointment, and are placing the blame squarely on Mayor Bloomberg. Education policy professor Pedro Noguera told the Times, "No one thought that mayoral control would mean that the mayor would be the only person who makes decisions...There was supposed to be some system of checks and balances."

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By Jaya Saxena in News on November 30, 2010 9:44 AM

Comments [rss]

bigmikebrooklyn

i think the grammatical headline confusion stems from someone in sports being put on waivers and just carries over. my $.02
also, who is this lady? oh wait, i don't care, i just want bloomberg to stop acting like a dictator throwing his money around. to appropriate/paraphrase the drag racing article comments, Govern like a memeber of the democratic human race. In fact, every politician needs to stop treating their term in office like a career and go back to public service and governance being a temporary civic responsibility.

JacqueMehoff

Sounds like he's getting paid by the page, or page views.

S.D.

Wow. 12 pages when all he needed was:
"I want a job with Bloomberg when I'm no longer New York State Commissioner of Education."

See? Succinct and too the point. Too bad qualified teachers can't get the same waiver or consideration.

ishtar_79

Nothing is wrong with her having this job, but everything is wrong with the way Bloomberg went about appointing her.

chuzzlewit

the reason he went about appointing her this way is because there are a LOT of people who think that there are some things wrong with her having this job

MermaidFornicator

duncan maccleod would like you to know that "there can be only one"

Guest

despicable. billionaire bloomberg once again manipulates the system for his own selfish and petty whims.

one nation under Money God in the United States of Plutocracy.

RoboticInsides

Isn't waiver a noun?

SFNY

Yep, it's a noun. The headline should read "Steiner Explains Waiver for Black in 12-Page Letter," or, to use the verb, "Why Steiner Waived Chancellor Requirements."

Perhaps there was some confusion related to "waver/wavered," as in "Steiner Wavered before Granting Waiver."

The original headline provides a nice example of why NY needs competent educators (and editors).

Rocknrope

Education policy professor Pedro Noguera told the Times, "No one thought that mayoral control would mean that the mayor would be the only person who makes decisions.

Noguero was later seen fitted with an iron mask by the Mayor's personal security detail, and sent to the bowels of Gracie Mansion.

Andrea K

Steiner probably got some of whatever Christine Quinn got the day she went into a room with Bloomberg and came out saying that changing term limits for him was a good idea after all.