NEW YORK—Joined by elected officials and over two dozen protesters, New York City Councilman Charles Barron denounced Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s appointment of Chancellor of Board of Education Cathleen Black earlier this week.
Bloomberg appointed Black to replace previous Chancellor Joel Klein, who stepped down after serving two terms.
Barron said according to state law, Black is not qualified for the position.
Black, whose background is in publishing, lacks various state required qualifications for the position including a degree and experience in the educational field. New York State Education Department Commissioner David Steiner will need to waive the requirements if Black is to assume the position.
In 2002, Klein faced a similar dilemma. With a background as an assistant attorney general in charge of the Department of Justice’s Antitrust Division, he also did not meet the state’s requirements for chancellor of the city’s board of education. Klein was able to assume the position upon having been granted a waiver by the State Education commissioner at the time, Richard P. Mills.
If Steiner waives the requirements, Black will be the first female schools chancellor. For over a decade, she served as chairwoman for Hearst Magazines and was the president and publisher of USA Today for eight years.
Barron criticized Bloomberg for his decision in choosing another chancellor of education with no background in education, claiming that Klein’s term in office did not serve the needs of the 1.1 million children.
“What’s the purpose of having credentials when every time you want to put someone incompetent in that you can just waive the criteria for teaching our children,” said Barron.
In 2002, Mayor Bloomberg took responsibility for the city’s public schools. It was the first time since 1969 that a New York City mayor has done so. Through this reform, Mayor Bloomberg gained the right to appoint eight members of the board including the chancellor who would report directly to him.
In a letter to Commissioner David Steiner, state senator elect Tony Avella urged him to deny Black the waiver necessary for her to take the position of chancellor.
“I firmly believe that the chancellor should be a person who understands how to develop curriculum, who understands the value of parental involvement, and who understands what principals, teachers, and students go through on a daily basis,” wrote Avella in his letter.
New York City leads the largest education system in the country and its department oversees 1.1 million children with a $23 billion dollar budget for approximately 1,400 schools and 80,000 teachers.
Bloomberg praised Black for her qualifications and expressed full confidence in her.
“Cathie Black is a superstar manager who has succeeded spectacularly in the private sector. She is brilliant, she is innovative, she is driven—and there is virtually nobody who knows more about the needs of the 21st century workforce for which we need to prepare our kids,” said Bloomberg in a statement.
“My main goal will be to build on the work that has been accomplished during the Bloomberg administration, and Chancellor Klein’s tenure,” said Black in a statement.
Joy Simmons, a parent from Brooklyn said she is outraged about Bloomberg’s choice. She said children need a holistic leadership and not just test results.
Following his resignation, former Chancellor Klein will work as a senior adviser to Rupert Murdoch’s News Corporation.
Bloomberg appointed Black to replace previous Chancellor Joel Klein, who stepped down after serving two terms.
Barron said according to state law, Black is not qualified for the position.
Black, whose background is in publishing, lacks various state required qualifications for the position including a degree and experience in the educational field. New York State Education Department Commissioner David Steiner will need to waive the requirements if Black is to assume the position.
In 2002, Klein faced a similar dilemma. With a background as an assistant attorney general in charge of the Department of Justice’s Antitrust Division, he also did not meet the state’s requirements for chancellor of the city’s board of education. Klein was able to assume the position upon having been granted a waiver by the State Education commissioner at the time, Richard P. Mills.
If Steiner waives the requirements, Black will be the first female schools chancellor. For over a decade, she served as chairwoman for Hearst Magazines and was the president and publisher of USA Today for eight years.
Barron criticized Bloomberg for his decision in choosing another chancellor of education with no background in education, claiming that Klein’s term in office did not serve the needs of the 1.1 million children.
“What’s the purpose of having credentials when every time you want to put someone incompetent in that you can just waive the criteria for teaching our children,” said Barron.
In 2002, Mayor Bloomberg took responsibility for the city’s public schools. It was the first time since 1969 that a New York City mayor has done so. Through this reform, Mayor Bloomberg gained the right to appoint eight members of the board including the chancellor who would report directly to him.
In a letter to Commissioner David Steiner, state senator elect Tony Avella urged him to deny Black the waiver necessary for her to take the position of chancellor.
“I firmly believe that the chancellor should be a person who understands how to develop curriculum, who understands the value of parental involvement, and who understands what principals, teachers, and students go through on a daily basis,” wrote Avella in his letter.
New York City leads the largest education system in the country and its department oversees 1.1 million children with a $23 billion dollar budget for approximately 1,400 schools and 80,000 teachers.
Bloomberg praised Black for her qualifications and expressed full confidence in her.
“Cathie Black is a superstar manager who has succeeded spectacularly in the private sector. She is brilliant, she is innovative, she is driven—and there is virtually nobody who knows more about the needs of the 21st century workforce for which we need to prepare our kids,” said Bloomberg in a statement.
“My main goal will be to build on the work that has been accomplished during the Bloomberg administration, and Chancellor Klein’s tenure,” said Black in a statement.
Joy Simmons, a parent from Brooklyn said she is outraged about Bloomberg’s choice. She said children need a holistic leadership and not just test results.
Following his resignation, former Chancellor Klein will work as a senior adviser to Rupert Murdoch’s News Corporation.
