STATEMENT OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION AND SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS ON THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE MAYOR'S PANEL ON DECENTRALIZATION.

NOTING THE NEED TO DEVELOP CITYWIDE PLANS FOR DEALING WITH THE COMPLEX PROBLEMS OF HOUSING, EMPLOYMENT, WELFARE, AND OTHER CITY SERVICES, AND THEIR RELATIONSHIP WITH EDUCATIONAL EFFORTS, THE NEW YORK CITY BOARD OF EDUCATION STATES ITS DISAGREEMENT WITH THE REPORT OF THE MAYOR'S PANEL ON SCHOOL DECENTRALIZATION, THE SO-CALLED BUNDY REPORT. THE BOARD'S MAJOR OBJECTIONS ARE WITH THE METHODS AND TIMETABLE FOR DECENTRALIZATION PROPOSED BY THE BUNDY PANEL. THE BOARD FEELS THAT THE BUNDY PLAN WOULD TOO RAPIDLY ASSIGN EDUCATIONAL AUTHORITY TO THE LOCAL BOARDS AND GIVE THEM SWEEPING POWERS OVER (1) THE HIRING OF PERSONNEL, (2) CURRICULUM, (3) EXPENDITURES, AND (4) EDUCATIONAL POLICIES. ALTHOUGH IT FAVORS DECENTRALIZATION, THE BOARD MAINTAINS THAT STATE LAW LIMITS HOW FAR AUTHORITY MAY BE DELEGATED. ITS OTHER OBJECTIONS TO THE PLAN CONCERN THE PROPOSED DRASTIC ALTERATIONS IN PERSONNEL PROCEDURES AND THE OPERATIONAL DIFFICULTIES OF WHAT IT FEELS WOULD BE TWO PARALLEL SCHOOL SYSTEMS. IT ALSO CRITICIZES THE DELEGATION OF AUTHORITY OVER SPECIAL CLASSES, OPTIONAL SERVICES, AND COSTS OUTLINED IN THE PLAN. THE BOARD FEELS THAT THE PLAN DOES NOT GIVE THE CENTRAL AGENCY CLEARCUT PROCEDURES FOR ACCOUNTABILITY OVER THE LOCAL BOARDS. IT RECOMMENDS A SLOWER, MORE DELIBERATIVE MOVEMENT TOWARD DECENTRALIZATION, WITH SUFFICIENT TIME ALLOWED TO EVALUATE THE SUCCESS OF THE PLAN. (NH)