State Education Commissioner Grants Waiver For Cathie Black
By: NY1 News

The head of the State Education Department has granted Cathie Black the waiver necessary to become the city's next Schools Chancellor.

Under the controversial deal, Mayor Michael Bloomberg's pick will be allowed to lead the school system with a deputy chancellor serving as her second in command.

In a 12 page letter, State Education Commissioner David Steiner explained in great detail why he decided to give the publishing executive with no education experience a waiver to lead the nation's largest school system.

In it, he says, "Despite her lack of direct experience in education, I find that Ms. Black’s exceptional record of successfully leading complex organizations and achievement of excellence in her endeavors, warrant certification for service in the New York City School District, where she will have the support of a team of experience educators, including a single person serving as Senior Deputy Chancellor and Chief Academic Officer.”

“I’m grateful for the opportunity to serve our City’s 1.1 million school children and their families. It’s vitally important that we continue building on the progress that Joel Klein and the Mayor have made over the last 8 years, and I’m ready to roll up my sleeves and get going," Black said in a released statement.

Shael Polakow-Suransky, 38, who currently the city's deputy chancellor for accountability and performance, will serve as Black's senior deputy chancellor and chief academic officer.
State Education Commissioner Grants Waiver For Cathie Black

Polakow-Suranksy has all of the education credentials Black lacks. He was a teacher, a principal, and has held several different jobs at the Department of Education. He is generally well respected – even by some of the strongest critics of Bloomberg and Klein, including the teachers union leadership. He has a reputation as someone willing to listen and admit when things are not working or could be better.

But Bloomberg says Black will be the one calling the shots.

"I think it's be inappropriate to speak while we're waiting for the panel, for David Steiner to act, but there will be one person in charge, make no mistake about that," said the mayor.

Several lawmakers and parent groups have already said they plan to challenge the legality of a waiver granted under the new deal.

"Last week, [State Education Commissioner David] Steiner and the panel, unequivocally said that Cathie Black does not have the qualifications to be chancellor,” said parent Mona Davis at a rally yesterday outside of Tweed Courthouse. “This circumvention of the law is completely unacceptable."

“The rules spell out specific educational requirements,” said Civil Rights attorney Norman Siegel. “We believe Cathie doesn't meet those requirements. The commissioner will have to justify why he has given the waiver and if the justification has no basis in the law. We can go to court."

The Department of Education is standing by Black, saying "It's time to put our politics aside and recognize that it's in all our kids' interest for Cathie Black to succeed as our next Chancellor."

Current Schools Chancellor Joel Klein also needed a waiver.

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