Since taking over the reins of New York City, Mayor Eric Adams has been calling hard on the State Legislature to give him full control over the more than 1,700 public schools in the Big Apple, and although it has insisted that this guarantee be for 4 years, the extension of that figure will only be for a period of 2 years, until 2024.
That is the consensus in Albany, which is expected to be formally approved in the next few hours, before the end of the legislative session 2022, according to several politicians.
The agreement reached by the legislators over the weekend, where it is highlighted that the school control would be for two years, and that was introduced within the Legislature, the mayor does not seem to be very happy.
“While we believe that all parties are operating in good faith, we also believe that the legislation, as drafted is not currently the best thing we can do for the students of New York City, and we look forward to addressing these concerns in the coming days,” said Mayor Adams.
Control over schools, a figure that has remained in the hands of the State, and that the City has requested on multiple occasions to be fully granted to the municipal authorities, would allow greater progress and freedoms so that the Mayor’s Office could implement more plans and actions, as they have defended.
Democratic state senator John Liu was one of the first political leaders to confirm that Albany will approve control over schools for two years.
“There has been intense and prolonged negotiation by multiple parties to try to figure out school governance in New York City in the future,” said the Queens legislator.
“We are extending the control of the mayor’s office for two years with additional mechanisms to strengthen the participation of parents. The mayor retains control of the school board, most appointments, as well as the hiring and firing of the chancellor. And we maintain the ability to hold the mayor accountable for performance, or lack thereof, with New York City public schools,” added the politician.
Michael Mulgrew, President of the Federation Union of Teachers (UFT), was positive about the announcement and the effects that it will have on the more than 900, public school students.
“The legislation introduced by the Chairman of the New York Committee on Education, State Senator John Liu, and the Chairman of the Assembly Committee on Education, Michael Benedetto, will increase parental involvement in the government of our public schools and will guarantee more independence for the members of the Educational Policy Panel, both important priorities for the teachers of the city”, assured the leader of the teachers.
Mulgrew highlighted that the project of law that advances on the control of schools, ta It will also promote changes in New York City’s governance structure, by expanding the number of members on the Panel for Education Policy, from 15 to 23, giving parents more power.
The union leader also expressed his support for the law that orders the reduction of the size of classes, stating that it is a sign that the Legislature has heard the clamor of parents for reasonable class sizes and not overcrowding.
2022
The extension of control over schools to Mayor Adams comes just at a time when safety concerns are on the table in schools, which requires the implementation of new municipal measures and actions.