Supporters Of Mayoral Control Of Schools Rally In Queens
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With the deadline for renewing mayoral control of city schools fast approaching, supporters of the law rallied yesterday in Queens.
The Reverend Floyd Flake, who has endorsed Mayor Michael Bloomberg in his re-election bid, joined other supporters at the Greater Allen A.M.E. Cathedral in Jamaica.
Proponents of mayoral control say the old system did not work and there's no reason to change what does.
"My kids have done well, but I was there with them fighting for the school system to change, to fix itself, and it wasn't changing to fix itself," said Assemblywoman Barbara Clark. "It was a sewer of patronage and special interests, and that is what I don't want it to go back to."
"I talk to parents everyday," said Donna Santana, a PTA representative for P.S. 52. "We've seen our schools get safer and better funded."
Critics of the program say Bloomberg has too much control and that the system should allow parents to get more involved.
Mayoral control expires at the end of the month, and state lawmakers are currently debating whether to keep the law as is, or make changes.