Cathie Black's Position Protested By Deny The Waiver Coalition

Cathie Black hasn't had the best start to her fledgling career as schools chancellor. At every turn she has been rebuked by critics, both by government watch dogs and concerned teachers and parents.

When Mayor Bloomberg first announced the appointment back in the fall, those wary of her qualifications protested the Department of Education Commissioner David Steiner NOT to grant Black a waiver to serve. And while a panel of experts hired to suss out Black's eligibility said not to grant the waiver, Steiner did, anyway.

But those critics, in the wake of Black's poor (and often downright nasty) performance, are not quieting down. From The New York Observer:

A group called the Deny the Waiver Coalition then sued to have the waiver revoked, and they are now appealing the decision from the lower court. The appellate court will decide on the appeal on March 15. Deny the Waiver Coalition has until Tuesday to submit its brief to the court.

"I think that the argument is very well founded. If the court simply applies the law and doesn't look at the case politically then I think it will pass," said Arthur Schwartz, who is representing the Coalition's case.

If the coalition is successful in having Commission Steiner revoke the waiver, then Black would be removed from office. Coalition representative Arthur Schwartz had the zinger of the evening, when he said:

"From everything that they've said, they've surrounded her with a bunch of people who are qualified to run the school system," Schwartz said. "If they're all as qualified as they say they are, which they certainly seem to be, then they can last for a couple weeks while they find a replacement for her."