Discontent With Mayor at Heart of School Uproar
By ELISSA GOOTMAN
Published: November 25, 2010
Like many other parents, Lisa B. Donlan was cautiously optimistic back in 2002 when Joel I. Klein, a former federal prosecutor andBertelsmann executive, was appointed chancellor of New York City’s public schools. Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg had just won control of the schools from Albany, and while Ms. Donlan was happy with her own children’s school, she knew that parts of the system were badly broken.
Michael Appleton for The New York Times
Mayor Bloomberg chooses Cathleen P. Black to run the city’s schools.
Michael Appleton for The New York Times
Cathleen Black’s background and persona may play into criticisms that Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg is elitist and autocratic.
“Back then, people were hopeful, people were open-minded,” Ms. Donlan recalled this week.
But when Mr. Bloomberg announced this month that his next pick for chancellor was Cathleen P. Black, the chairwoman of Hearst Magazines, Ms. Donlan was outraged.
She not only signed a petition asking the state education commissioner, David M. Steiner, to deny Ms. Black the waiver required for chancellor candidates who lack the necessary education credentials, but also joined other