NYC schools chancellor defends mayoral control, but Mamdani allies remain unconvinced

 NYC schools chancellor defends mayoral control, but Mamdani allies remain unconvinced

Chancellor Kamar Samuels spent Tuesday defending New York City’s mayoral control of public schools — a system Mayor Mamdani once opposed during his campaign but now largely supports.

At a closely watched City Council hearing, Samuels spoke in favour of the governance structure, even as some of Mamdani’s political allies continue to criticise it. The debate is expected to intensify this spring, when state lawmakers consider whether to extend mayoral control.

Public Advocate Jumaane Williams described the system as high risk and high reward.

“One person is great if that person is very good,” Williams said. “If that person is not, it is a high risk and high reward.”

He stressed that concerns about the structure go beyond any individual leader.

“This is not about any one mayor or one chancellor,” he said. “I’m excited to see what the chancellor is going to do, and I’m excited about this mayor. But it’s a longstanding criticism of the way the system is set up.”

Under mayoral control, the mayor appoints the schools chancellor and the majority of members to the city’s education panel. In most districts nationwide, elected school boards oversee public schools.

The United Federation of Teachers, which endorsed Mamdani in the general election, also drew a distinction between the current mayor and the broader policy. Union president Michael Mulgrew argued the system lacks sufficient checks and balances.

“It’s not about any one person,” Mulgrew said. “It’s just a bad policy.”

He added that lawmakers should avoid offering superficial fixes when the issue returns to Albany.

Although the City Council does not control school governance, Mamdani is expected to visit Albany this week to seek funding and legislative approval for key initiatives, including an extension of mayoral control — a yearly lobbying effort known as “Tin Cup Day.”

During the hearing, Samuels attempted to defend the system while acknowledging that improvements are needed. He said families must feel included in decision-making, not just hear about reforms.

“I am keenly aware that there is still much more to do,” Samuels said. “If families are not feeling these improvements, if they’re not feeling involved in decision-making, then we need to do better.”

In recent years, state lawmakers have adjusted mayoral control by expanding the Panel for Educational Policy (PEP), adding members elected by parent leaders. The panel, which votes on major contracts, policies, and school closures, now has 23 members.

Samuels said those changes have made the body more deliberative and strengthened its oversight role.

The state has also limited a mayor’s ability to remove panel members without “good cause” before their terms expire. As a result, some current members were appointed by former Mayor Adams and will remain in place.

“As we’re experiencing now, the terms will be served out no matter who the mayor is,” Samuels said.

The issue became more pointed this week after reports that PEP member Joe Borelli, a Republican appointed by Adams, used an offensive term in a social media post describing a Democrat’s reaction to the Super Bowl halftime show. Borelli later apologised and deleted the post.

At the hearing, Ellen McHugh, a parent of a child with a disability, cited the incident as one reason she opposes mayoral control.

“Recently, an appointee to the PEP, Mr Joseph Borelli, used the word ‘retarded’ in his posting,” McHugh said, becoming emotional. “Obviously, he felt very comfortable using it.”