Mayor Eric Adams at P.S. 60 Alice Austen School on Staten Island in January, 2022since 2002. That’s when state lawmakers handed the reins of the nation’s largest school system to the Bloomberg administration.
State Senator John Liu, who chairs the Senate Committee on NYC Education, said he believes dissatisfaction with mayoral control is widespread among parents, teachers, and other stakeholders, and that he’s seeking ideas and suggestions on how the system can work better. , “I need four years, and I really need your help to give me an opportunity to finally turn around the school system that has failed children.”“Mayoral accountability allows us to support our students and schools as we emerge from the pandemic. I look forward to working with my colleagues in Albany to best prioritize our students and ensure our schools are the safest and most supportive environments possible,” Adams said in a statement Monday.
While not calling for the total dismantling of mayoral control, the United Federation of Teachers union has challenged the current system, arguing it’s in need of “necessary checks and balances.” Specifically, it’s asked for greater input on the education panels by parents who aren’t appointed by the mayor.