Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr., who has stayed out of the war over charter schools, has agreed to speak at a massive pro-charter event where he will defend the schools and declare, “Charters are here to stay.”
Although he heads a borough with 59 charter schools, Diaz has not been outspoken in the battles that have pitted charter-school operators against Mayor de Blasio and the teachers union.
That will change Wednesday when the six-year leader of The Bronx will speak at City Hall, where thousands of charter-school supporters are expected to converge following a rally at Cadman Plaza in Brooklyn and a march over the Brooklyn Bridge
“I support charter schools. I always have,” Diaz told The Post in an interview. “Charters schools are part of the public-school system. We need to offer all the support we can give them.”
Diaz says he supports all public schools — traditional and charter.
“It’s time to stop making this about taking sides. It’s about the children,” he said. “Charter schools are here to stay. There has to be a peaceful co-existence. We’re achieving that in The Bronx.”
For example, he said, co-location — charter schools sharing space with traditional public schools — has worked in his borough.
“We need to get beyond the rhetoric, beyond the vitriol, beyond the personalities. Let’s stop the bickering. I went to get beyond the polarization. We need to focus on putting kids first,” he said.
“I’m telling the parents, students and educators that I support what they’re doing,” Diaz added. “When I visit charter schools in The Bronx, the students and parents are from the community. They are our kids.”
Diaz dismissed talk that his role in the pro-charter rally is tied to a possible mayoral run in 2017.
“The education of children in The Bronx and the city of New York is way more important than anyone’s politics,” he said.
Political consultant George Arzt said Diaz’s decision to take such a high-profile role backing charters could distinguish him from rival Democrats down the road.
“People will view him from a different perspective,” Arzt said. “It definitely shows Ruben as a person who disagrees with the incumbent mayor. It show him as independent.”
While the borough president has stayed out of the limelight on the charter issue until now, his father, Bronx state Sen. Ruben Diaz Sr., has been a vocal and longtime charter-school booster.
The senior Diaz has accused minority politicians of selling out kids by resisting charters, which operate outside of union rules.
Papa Diaz was thrilled that his son is taking a more active role.
“This is big news,” Diaz Sr. said. “I’m happy my son is speaking out for charter schools.”
Wednesday’s charter rally is scheduled to begin at 9 a.m.