Updated 07/25/2009 10:06 AM
State Senate Dems Reach Deal Over Mayoral Control
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A deal appeared to be in place Friday for Mayor Michael Bloomberg to regain control of the city's schools system.
State Senate Majority Leader Pedro Espada Jr. said that after meeting for several hours in Lower Manhattan Friday, Senate Democrats reached an agreement with the mayor that includes some new provisions.
They include granting expanded powers to school district superintendents over principals and educational issues, a committee to look into school safety issues, creation of a parent activist training center and the creation of an arts advisory council.
"I want to let everyone know, sometimes out of confusion and chaos there is structure," said Senate Democratic Conference Leader John Sampson.
Espada said the mayor's office is on board with the plan.
"This is a great moment for us," said Espada. "As I said, we've enhanced the parental involvement, the superintendents, the curriculum, school safety, all of those issues have been dealt with and agreed to."
Espada said the agreement will be passed before the start of the school year, but other state senators at the meeting were not as optimistic.
"We believe that very soon that we will have an agreement that puts our parents and children first," said Queens Senator Hiram Monserrate. "I wouldn't go so fast as to say today. There's still a lot of details that are being discussed."
In a statement, the mayor praised the deal and hoped it will pass during the first week of August.
Bloomberg and some Democratic lawmakers have been engaged in a nasty war of words after the State Senate last month failed to renew legislation that gave him control over the schools, rather than a seven-member Board of Education.
The State Senate adjourned for the summer last Friday, and still needs to vote on reinstalling mayoral control.