Mayor Bloomberg spins new NYC schools chancellor Dennis Walcott as opposite of Cathie Black

Mayor Bloomberg spins new NYC schools chancellor Dennis Walcott as opposite of Cathie Black

BY RACHEL MONAHAN
DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER

Sunday, April 10th 2011, 4:00 AM

Hermann/News; Savulich/News

Dennis Walcott (l.) may come from a more experienced background than his much maligned predecessor, Cathie Black, but don't expect many policy changes.

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In announcing his pick to replace Cathie Black as city schools chancellor, Mayor Bloomberg presented Dennis Walcott as the polar opposite of his failed predecessor.

Four generations of his family have attended public school. He was raised and still lives in Queens. And as deputy mayor dealing with education policy for nine years, he's got the know-how that Black lacked.

But parents expecting this fresh start to involve a reversal of the city's controversial education policies may be sorely disappointed.

"I haven't seen a sign that there would be any changes," said Kim Sweet of Advocates for Children. "Although it seems he will be making more of an effort to reach out to parents and communities, I hope that he'll actually listen."

In the three days since he has accepted the job, Walcott has stayed the course on key talking points - from backing the city's fight against so-called "last in, first out" seniority

Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/2011/04/10/2011-04-10_mayor_spins_walcott_as_180degree_opposite_of_black_but_dont_expect_big_change_sa.html#ixzz1J8OkIUiF