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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, April 7, 2011
CONTACT:
Mona Davids 917-340-8987
Lupe Todd (for Assemblyman Jeffries) 917-202-0116
Chris Owens 718-514-4874
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Deny Waiver Coalition Statement
on the resignation of
Unqualified Chancellor Cathie Black
"Mayor Bloomberg's political treatment of
education is leading to disaster for our children."
Today's resignation of Schools Chancellor Cathleen P. Black closes another sad chapter in the history of Mayor Michael Bloomberg's manipulation of public education in the City of New York. Ms. Black's departure is a clear victory for parents and all those who care about the quality of public education.
After disregarding the concerns of many, Mayor Bloomberg pushed ahead with the nomination and defense of a candidate unqualified to lead the largest public school system in the United States of America. Cathie Black's departure confirms for parents, teachers and administrators their fear that the Bloomberg administration's education track record is strong on rhetoric, hype and titles, yet weak on substance.
The Mayor has provided a textbook lesson in the dangers of unfettered Mayoral control of our education system. In sum, Mayor Bloomberg's political treatment of education is leading to disaster for our children.
The Deny Waiver Coalition is proud to have continuously highlighted the fact that the Mayor "had no clothes" when it came to this appointment. The Deny Waiver Coalition has never wavered in its demand that an appropriate individual serve as Chancellor -- an individual whose experience in education substantially exceeds the minimum criteria for the position.
There remains cause for concern. The Deny Waiver Coalition called for a national search to find the best Chancellor candidate. That has not happened. The Coalition demanded a Chancellor with proven experience at leading public schools or school systems. New York City still does not have that. The Coalition advocated for transparency in the Chancellor selection process. That has yet to happen.
Accordingly, the Deny Waiver Coalition members support the immediate adoption of legislation amending the New York State education law to strengthen the minimum requirements for service as Chancellor of New York City's public schools, and to minimize the discretion allowed with regard to waivers on the part of the Mayor and the State Education Commissioner.
The Deny Waiver Coalition includes individual petitioners who challenged the appointment of Cathie Black in court. Parent Petitioners from the five boroughs are New York State Assemblymember Hakeem Jeffries (Brooklyn), Democratic State Committeeman and District Leader Chris Owens (Brooklyn), Ms. Mona Davids (Bronx), Mr. Noah E. Gotbaum (Manhattan), Ms. Khem Irby (Brooklyn), Ms. Lydia Bellahcene (Brooklyn), Ms. Patricia Connelly (Brooklyn), Ms. Monica Ayuso (Queens), Ms. Mariama Sanoh (Brooklyn), Mr. John Battis (Brooklyn), Ms. Latrina Miley (Manhattan), Ms. Shino Tanikawa-Oglesby (Manhattan) and Ms. Maria Farano-Rodriguez (Staten Island). The teacher Petitioner is Ms. Julie Cavanagh (Brooklyn). # # # |
