By Eileen Buckley
Albany, NY – Governor Pataki has released a proposal that calls for the abolition of the state Board of Regents. Under his plan, there would continue to an Education Commissioner, but the commissioner would be appointed by the governor and would have sole responsibility for the state's education system.
Pataki said the reform would increase accountability in public schools throughout New York and make the State's entire education system more responsive to the needs of children and parents.
"Along with my proposals to overhaul the State's school aid formula and provide mayoral control of our schools, we also need to abolish the Board of Regents," Pataki said. "This common-sense reform will make the State's highest elected official the governor directly accountable to students, families, and taxpayers for the performance and governance of our schools."
The state Assembly's Democratic majority is opposed to Pataki's proposal as are the two Democratic candidates for governor, who say the proposal is politically motivated.
Also questioning it is the newly-elected member of the state Board of Regents. James Tallon, a former state Assemblyman from Binghamton, says he doesn't believe New York's education system would be well served by eliminating the Regents.
Tallon told a Binghamton radio station Friday that abolishing the board would make it more likely that political considerations could affect education-related decisions.
He said he believes the Board of Regents has been very responsive to the concerns of New Yorkers in recent years.