Waiver Requested for Mayor's Schools Pick
By BARBARA MARTINEZ
![[SCHOOLS]](http://si.wsj.net/public/resources/images/NY-AP382_SCHOOL_G_20101109175940.jpg)
Rob Bennett for The Wall Street JournalMayor Michael Bloomberg, right, has asked the state education commissioner for a waiver in order to appoint Cathie Black, center, as the next New York City schools chancellor.
Mayor Michael Bloomberg formally asked the state education commissioner for a waiver to appoint Cathie Black as the next schools chancellor, setting the stage for a high-stakes political nail-biter over the leadership of New York City's 1,600 schools.
David Steiner, the commissioner, now is a prickly position. He has to decide whether to ignore the calls of critics, who say Ms. Black is unqualified because she lacks education experience, or to deny Mr. Bloomberg's request and effectively eviscerate the most