What a welcome.
Not even 24 hours after she was tapped by Mayor Bloomberg to take charge of the city’s public-school system, powerhouse publisher Cathie Black came under attack by a newly elected state senator who has enormous union backing.
Democratic Sen.-elect Tony Avella — whose successful bid to oust longtime Queens Republican incumbent Frank Padavan got a big boost from the teachers union — urged state education officials to deny Black a waiver that would allow her to serve as schools chancellor.
“I firmly believe that the chancellor should be a person who understands how to develop curriculum, who understands the value of parental involvement, and who understands what principals, teachers and students go through on a daily basis,” Avella wrote to state Education Commissioner David Steiner in a letter dated yesterday.
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“Ms. Black’s own admissions that she has had no experience in union negotiations and sent her own children to private schools further disqualifies her for this position.”
State law requires that school-system leaders have certification as superintendents, which Black does not have, but the law allows the state Education Department to grant waivers.
Departing Schools Chancellor Joel Klein, who also got the job without significant education experience, received such a waiver eight years ago.
But Brooklyn Republican state Sen. Marty Golden claimed Avella was doing the bidding of the United Federation of Teachers in his quest to block Black’s appointment.
“The UFT endorsed Avella and Avella is rewarding the endorsement. It’s all about rewarding the UFT for its endorsement,” Golden said.
“He’s definitely not acting in the interest of the children, and that should be the focus. Cathie Black has the credentials to run a large operation.”
A spokesman for the UFT said the union was not consulted regarding Avella’s letter.
For his part, Avella shot down claims that the teachers union was behind the push.
“Nonsense. I haven’t even spoken to the UFT about this,” he told The Post.
Black “admitted she has no education experience. She admitted she hasn’t negotiated with unions,” Avella said.
But former Councilwoman Eva Moskowitz — who paid a political price for riling the teachers union during her tenure in public service — said union wishes are often channeled through politicians.
“A lot of elected officials are wholly owned subsidiaries of the teachers union and it’s been that way for half a century,” said Moskowitz, current CEO of the Success Charter School Network. “The teachers union has enormous clout and owns a good portion of Albany.”
Asked about criticism of Black’s lack of education experience, State Board of Regents Chancellor Merryl Tisch said she couldn’t comment directly because of her role in providing the waiver.
“But I would like to say that when the Legislature granted mayoral control, that means you allow the mayor to choose his chief executive,” she said.
“I don’t believe the mayor would ask someone to do this if he was not fully confident that they would be able to do it and I have confidence in the mayor and I have confidence in his choices.”