By Lisa Fleisher
(From Wall Street Journal, April 4th, 2012)
Some of the most recognizable names in New York City education–including former schools Chancellor Joel Klein and educator Geoffrey Canada–have formed a group that will work to sustain Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s school-reform efforts after he leaves office.
StudentsFirstNY, an offshoot of a national organization hatched by former Washington, D.C., schools Chancellor Michelle Rhee, is designed as a political counterweight to teachers unions, organizers said in announcing the group Wednesday.
“We are very worried that the teachers unions are really pushing that this time period, the Bloomberg time period, be thought of as over, and now we…get back to business as usual,” said Mr. Canada, head of the Harlem Children’s Zone, which won fame in the 2010 documentary “Waiting for ‘Superman.'”
Indeed, the United Federation of Teachers has been framing Mr. Bloomberg’s tenure in City Hall as a lost decade for education, and other groups already are trying to look beyond his term. After winning control of city schools in 2002, Mr. Bloomberg has pushed to close poor-performing schools, open charter schools and end teacher job protections.
“People are praying, let’s put it that way, that the Bloomberg administration and their destructive policies toward our schools are over,” said Leonie Haimson, director of Class Size Matters, which fights many Bloomberg policies.
StudentsFirstNY intends to raise about $10 million a year for advertising, political contributions and other efforts, including lobbying and becoming involved in the 2013 mayoral race. Its formation was first reported by the New York Times.
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