Contact: Colleen Roche or Jack Deacy (212) 788-2958
"I met today with New York City Schools Chancellor Rudy Crew and we are in agreement on the best way to handle these new and emerging proposals.
"My responsibility is to all of the City's children and to make certain that they have all the opportunities possible for a quality education. In that regard, I encourage and support offering as many alternatives to our children as possible.
"The law makes it clear that I do not run the public school system. It is independent and is run by the Chancellor and the Board of Education. As such, it is appropriate that the Chancellor's primary focus and priority be the public school children in the public school system.
"Chancellor Crew has correctly stated that he must focus on enhancing the public school system without, in any way, interfering with private citizens' and businesses' interest or ability to develop and expand other alternatives."