Metro

Meet the new boss, blameless for the old boss

He’s been the mayor’s right- hand man on education for more than nine years, but Dennis Walcott wasn’t consulted before Mayor Bloomberg made his ill-fated decision to appoint Cathie Black as schools chancellor last year.

Walcott, who is replacing Black, was diplomatic when asked about his possible role in the debacle.

“The mayor has said you were part of every major decision in recent years. Were you part of the decision to hire Cathie Black?” a reporter inquired as Walcott was leaving City Hall Thursday, the day of his appointment.

“The mayor has said he’s moving forward,” he replied. “So I’m moving forward with the mayor.”

But sources say that Walcott did not know in advance of Bloomberg’s odd choice.

One insider suggested that wasn’t such a big deal since “virtually nobody at City Hall knew.”

That’s true. At the same time, Walcott is the deputy mayor for education, which puts him in a different position in this episode from, say, the deputy mayor for economic development.

As late as last Friday, Bloomberg was still indicating that Walcott was involved in every move the administration made in the school system.

“Dennis has been [here] from day one,” the mayor said on his weekly radio show. “Both Cathie Black and Joel Klein reported to the mayor through Dennis. He’s been a part of all these discussions.”

Except one.

Walcott has a deserved reputation for being unflappable, no matter how tense the circumstance.

He also has a relationship with teachers-union chief Mike Mulgrew.

That has led to some speculation that he might have a better shot than Black at reaching an accord with Mulgrew on some of the reforms proposed by the mayor.

Both sides say that’s not likely.

“That sounds like wishful thinking,” said an administration source.

“No,” was the blunt answer from a union official.

david.seifman@nypost.com