In an adorable photo opportunity yesterday morning, new Schools Chancellor Dennis Walcott walked his grandson Justin to school, PS 36 in St. Albans, Queens. Walcott, who also attended PS 36 when he was a boy, told reporters, "I don't want him to be late on my first day." Of course, parents and teachers said they couldn't recall seeing Grandpa Dennis there before, but that's okay, with one dad telling City Room, "It makes me feel good because we’ll probably get some more money for the school." The good times ended because then Walcott had a four-hour meeting with an irritated City Council!
Walcott's predecessor, former publishing executive Cathie Black, was pushed aside on Thursday after just 95 (dismal) days on the job overseeing the largest public school system in the country. Walcott has been a deputy mayor under Mayor Bloomberg since 2001, and while many applauded his appointment, the Council is upset at the city's plan to cut thousands of teachers.
According to the NY Times, City Councilman G. Oliver Koppell told him, "Saying you’re going to have to lay off teachers is a very ominous statement. What you should be saying is, ‘I hope we’re not going to have to lay off teachers,'" while Councilman Charles Barron "dismissively [said] that Mr. Walcott was 'smooth enough, sharp enough,' and that he would have an answer for everything." Speaking of—some think he's great mayor material, "An African American [with credibility on Wall Street] and the mayor's backing would be virtually unbeatable."
