As Mayor Eric Adams’ time period winds down, the Panel for Instructional Coverage that’s supposed to be the software for mayoral management of the colleges has gone rogue, each exceeding its correct authority and making an attempt to duck duty in relation to guaranteeing continued bus service for public schoolchildren.
The PEP was at it once more final week, refusing to even take into account approval of recent long-term school-bus contracts negotiated by Metropolis Corridor, and solely OK’ing one-month extensions in hopes {that a} new mayor elected Tuesday will sign a want to reward particular pursuits on the children’ expense.
The long-term contract put forth by Metropolis Corridor would allow the bus operators to get the financing wanted to maneuver in the direction of electrifying school-bus fleets as state legislation requires, and to modernize their fleets to make sure enough service.
However the PEP rebels are holding out to protect seniority rights for bus drivers that massively drive up prices — and had been really dominated unlawful by state courts again within the Bloomberg years — in hopes that the Legislature will make them authorized.
This episode exhibits how straightforward it will likely be for a Mayor Mamdani to let go of management of the varsity system even with out formally dropping mayoral management: Simply let the members go rogue, and the particular pursuits will fortunately take over.
It’s another reason voters must deny Zohran Mamdani a victory on Tuesday.
