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On last night’s “Inside City Hall”, NYU professor Diane Ravitch and Geoffrey Canada, the President and C.E.O. of Harlem Children's Zone discussed the Mayor’s decision to replace Cathie Black as Schools Chancellor. Watch a clip of the interview above.

Tonight’s guests include: incoming Schools Chancellor Dennis Walcott and the four members of our Reporters Roundtable.

The New York Times

Before diving into the pulpy mass, I must note with dismay that The Times seems confused about how to cover New York City; first downsizing its once-impressive Metro section, now apparently eliminating a column that often served as the conscience of the city.

That’s right: Clyde Haberman’s terrific NYC column is ending its magnificent 16-year run. With Wayne Barrett and Tom Robbins leaving the Village Voice recently, this has been a bad time for veteran journalists who cover city government. Clyde’s voice will be missed. We will hopefully continue to see him as a frequent guest on our Friday reporters roundtable.

A Times trio reports on a story first broken by our Grace Rauh: “Cathleen P. Black, the publishing executive thrust into the improbable role of New York City’s school chancellor, resigned Thursday on the 95th day of her tenure after Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg told her in a blunt meeting that her troubled appointment could not be salvaged. The mayor announced he would replace Ms. Black with Dennis M. Walcott, a seasoned and likable deputy mayor, who, unlike Ms. Black, has deep education experience. He attended the city’s public schools and taught kindergarten. The decision to remove Ms. Black represents a rare step by Mr. Bloomberg, who takes pride in standing behind his deputies in the face of public criticism.”

David Halbfinger notes: “In selecting Cathleen P. Black as schools chancellor, Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg was, in many ways, playing to type: a man famous for ignoring advice, relying on his own instincts and doing the opposite of what an ordinary politician would do had chosen as leader of the nation’s largest school system a woman with no relevant experience whom he knew socially. In forcing her to resign on her 95th day, Mr. Bloomberg was reverting to a type that predated his mayoralty: the bloodless businessman, cutting his losses on an investment that was very evidently going nowhere. Yet the speed with which Mr. Bloomberg abandoned his education chief underscored what is his most embarrassing reversal yet, and magnified the image of his third term — which was made possible only because he helped overturn a term-limits law — as an episodic drama of debacles large and small.”

Fernanda Santos profiles Dennis Walcott: “Through most of his nine years as deputy mayor, he has been something of an unknown figure, overseeing several city agencies, though the largest of them, the Department of Education, had its own powerful leader, Joel I. Klein, who answered to the mayor. Some City Council members said privately that they were not sure what his exact role was, though education officials say he quietly and frequently met with them, acting as City Hall’s liaison to the school system.”

Javier Hernandez writes: “The New York state education commissioner, David M. Steiner, said Thursday that he would be resigning from his position in August. Dr. Steiner, 53, the former dean of the education school at Hunter College, said he planned to take a job at a university and turn his attention toward national education issues.”

Confessore & Rosenberg report: “Cuomo administration officials announced on Thursday that they would sharply reduce the number of police parking placards handed out each year in an effort to crack down on abuses by state officials.”

New York Post

A Post trio goes behind the scenes of Cathie Black’s ouster.

Scott & Venezia report: “Hey, dude, party on! As if the state Legislature didn't already seem like a bunch of wild frat boys, now they are taking an extended spring break, lengthening this month's already 13-day vacation period to a leisurely 18 days.”

New York Daily News

Adam Lisberg writes: “By taking swift action to solve a festering problem, Bloomberg may have finally shown he's willing to confront the missteps and blown opportunities that have marred his third term.”

Simone Weichselbaum reports: “Hours after she fled education headquarters, ex-Chancellor Cathie Black came home - and said she spent the afternoon shoe shopping. Black, who was asked to leave her post after just three months Thursday morning, returned to her Park Ave. apartment and told a gaggle of reporters, ‘I'm fine, I'm fine.’ “

Wall Street Journal

Andrew Grossman analyzes Black’s departure: “After going outside for the last schools chancellor, who was around just three months, Mayor Michael Bloomberg has now turned to an experienced insider.”

Have a great weekend. Until Monday.

Bob Hardt