Mayor faces six month wait to appoint majority of education panel
Inherited Governance Structure Complicates Education Agenda
Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s aggressive education agenda faces an immediate and unexpected complication: he cannot appoint the majority of New York City’s Panel for Educational Policy until at least June 2026, despite his authority as mayor to shape city schools. The PEP, also known as the school board, votes on Education Department contracts, policy changes, and consequential decisions including school closures and mergers. Of the panel’s 24 members, 13 are mayoral appointees. However, outgoing Mayor Eric Adams implemented term changes that allow all 13 mayoral seats to have staggered one-year terms running through June. This makes Mamdani the first mayor since mayoral control began in 2002 who cannot immediately appoint a majority.
Working With Adams Appointees Through June 2026
The panel is often considered a rubber stamp for the mayors agenda. But for the next six months, Mamdani must navigate a board that he does not fully control. He will have two vacant mayoral seats he can fill immediately, and the board chair position remains at his discretion. But he faces pressure from a board skeptical of his education priorities. Under Chalkbeat reporting, Adams did not appoint a majority due to vacancies, resulting in the board voting down some city priorities. The board rejected millions in city contracts and refused approval for school bus extensions. Board Chair Greg Faulkner, who serves until September, signaled willingness to work cooperatively with Mamdani despite the governance mismatch.
School Mergers and Contentious Policies at Risk
Schools Chancellor Kamar Samuels has signaled interest in merging schools to address growing numbers of small campuses and promote integration. These proposals typically generate fierce pushback from families and educators. The first test comes immediately, with the Kiddom curriculum platform returning to the board for a Wednesday vote. Teachers rate smaller classes highly when achieved. New York’s class size reduction law requires high school classes not exceed 25 students, grades 4-8 not exceed 23, and grades K-3 not exceed 20 by 2028. Over 40% of city classes remain unreduced.
Educational Control Tensions Reveal Governance Questions
Experts largely agree the board is unlikely to be a major obstacle to Mamdani before he gains full control. Observers predict it will vote for his agenda once he appoints a full slate. Still, some education advocates pushed state lawmakers to phase out the mayor’s board majority. A coalition of 43 advocacy organizations called for a two-year transition to independent governance while a commission rethinks oversight structures. Mamdani campaigned on ending mayoral control entirely but reversed this position the day before his inauguration. He now says he wants a reformed version that “engages parents, teachers, and students in decision-making.”
