The state’s top education official of public and private schools came to Borough Park yesterday and said she was “really disappointed” the legislature did not give Mayor Bill de Blasio more than one year of control over the city’s schools.
Dr. Merryl Tisch, Chancellor of the New York State Board of Regents, was the honoree at the Shema Kolainu – Hear Our Voices Annual Legislative Breakfast at the Renaissance Ballroom, 5902 14th Avenue. Shema Kolainu is dedicated to the education of children with autism spectrum disorders.
“I believe mayoral control was the governor’s decision. It’s about how you manage your school system. It doesn’t matter who the mayor is or what the politics are. I believe in it, and so I was obviously disappointed when they only found a way to renew it for a year because I don’t want people to think that we’re not committed to mayoral control, we are,” Tisch told KCP reporters.
While Tisch said she supported de Blasio’s bid to have control over the city’s schools for longer than just one year, she also maintained her support for the growth of charter schools, something that de Blasio – who has strong ties to the United Federation of Teachers – opposes.
“Everyone knows I’m really big on the charter schools. There can be great regular public schools, or great charter, or great colloquial schools. I believe every child deserves the best education possible and I would do nothing to artificially cap the number of excellent charter schools. Not mediocre charter schools, I want excellent charter schools,” she said.
Also in attending the breakfast was New York City Schools Chancellor Carmen Farina, who praised Tisch as a great chancellor with a deep concern and knowledge for public education.
