The New York Observer » Mayoral Control of Schools

Finally, Mayoral Control Passes the Senate

ALBANY—There were no major surprises, nothing was defeated, and the tweaked version of mayoral school control voted through the State Senate after two hours.

The main Assembly bill passed by a vote of 47 to 8; all four chapter amendments were approved by varying margins, with 15 senators opposing the creation of Read More

Squadron’s Smack

ALBANY—State Senator Shirley Huntley is making a floor speech against a bill re-authorizing mayoral control of schools, and just laid quite the smack on fellow Democrat Daniel Squadron, who is a co-sponsor of the bill and had spoken moments earlier.

"He seems to know a lot about schools and children, and it's amazing when Read More

By the Way, a New Schools Oversight Panel

ALBANY—Apparently, in addition to the Assembly's school-control bill and the four chapter amendments to increase parental involvement, the State Senate passed a resolution today by a voice vote that will create a panel to oversee the public schools.

Senate Minority Leader Dean Skelos and Senator Frank Padvan, a Republican from Queens who is Read More

State Senate Not Planning Much For Thursday

ALBANY—It's looking like a bare-bones agenda for the State Senate on Thursday.

The Democratic leaders met last night, sources said, and talked about items could be considered during a session Thursday that is expected to be brief. (It's not known if all 62 senators will even show up.)

Legislators will take up a Read More

Senate Will Return in a Week to Do Mayoral Control

ALBANY—The State Senate is returning next month.

Travis Proulx, a spokesman for the chamber's Democratic majority said that a session has been called for 10 a.m. on August 6. Senators will take up a bill which cleared the Assembly authorizing mayoral control of schools, as well as four chapter amendments agreed to in Read More

The Assembly Prepares, Warily, to Consider the Senate’s Schools Proposal

ALBANY—The State Senate's chapter amendments to the school governance bill will get a fair--if firm--shake in the Assembly, several members said.

"In my crystal ball, none of the rubric of what they have suggested, I wouldn't expect, will be a problem with my colleagues," said Assemblyman Danny O'Donnell, a Manhattan Democrat. "But the Read More

Senate Dems Pondering School Control Deal

Democratic members in the State Senate are meeting now at 250 Broadway to discuss the "framework" of a deal on school governance, sources said.

As The Times reported, the deal would mirror proposals the conference put on the table last week. Senators would pass a bill that has already cleared the Assembly—a Read More

Who Runs the Senate? (July 17 Edition)

ALBANY—So now that the Senate is nominallly a functioning body, who's running it? It's not an easy question to answer. "It's not a clear, bipartisan operating agreement, but it's not as though the Democrats have established clear control over the Legislature again and are consistently moving their agenda," Justin Phillips, a political science professor at Read More

Bloomberg Blasts Senate Over Schools Bill

ALBANY—Here's the final roll call on State Senator Kevin Parker's "better schools act," which failed last night by a margin of 40-15. Acting on the bill was basically a shot at Mayor Michael Bloomberg. Here's what Bloomberg had to say this morning on his weekly radio show on WOR: There were 15 people last night Read More

Bloomberg Blasts Senate Over Schools Bill

ALBANY—Here's the final roll call on State Senator Kevin Parker's "better schools act," which failed last night by a margin of 40-15.

Acting on the bill was basically a shot at Mayor Michael Bloomberg. Here's what Bloomberg had to say this morning on his weekly radio show on WOR:

There were 15 Read More

Who Runs the Senate? (July 17 Edition)

ALBANY—So now that the Senate is nominallly a functioning body, who's running it?

It's not an easy question to answer.

"It's not a clear, bipartisan operating agreement, but it's not as though the Democrats have established clear control over the Legislature again and are consistently moving their agenda," Justin Phillips, a political science professor Read More

Obscene Gesture: Senate Dems Take Up Anti-Mayoral Control Bill

ALBANY—Not only have Democrats in the State Senate turned their back on Michael Bloomberg's vision of school governance legislation, they're mooning him.

Senators will act on a bill—called the "Better Schools Act"—that is stridently opposed by the mayor because it dilutes his influence over the school system by eliminating his ability to appoint Read More

Obscene Gesture: Senate Dems Take Up Anti-Mayoral Control Bill

ALBANY—Not only have Democrats in the State Senate turned their back on Michael Bloomberg's vision of school governance legislation, they're mooning him. Senators will act on a bill—called the "Better Schools Act"—that is stridently opposed by the mayor because it dilutes his influence over the school system by eliminating his ability to appoint a majority Read More

Walcott: We’re Not Signing This Memo

ALBANY—Deputy Mayor Dennis Walcott said that conversations with Democrats in the State Senate over school governance legislation are ongoing, but that representatives of New York City do not want to sign off on any chapter amendments or any kind of memorandum linked to a chapter amendment, as was proposed this morning.

Which means that Read More

Walcott: We’re Not Signing This Memo