When Mayor Bloomberg was elected in 2001, his first priority was to gain control of the schools. At the time, the schools had a central board with seven members, two appointed by the mayor. Now the mayor appoints a majority and they serve at his pleasure.

In the last decade, the city’s schools have Ben subject to four major reorganizations and three chancellors. One of them lasted only 90 days, a record of sorts.

Now, voters and NYC public school parents oppose mayoral control. In a new poll, only 18% want the mayor to control them.

This is what the Quinnipiac poll showed:

“New York City’s next mayor should share control of the public schools, 63 percent of voters say, with 18 percent who want the mayor to keep control and 13 percent say the mayor should give up all control. Parents of children in public schools share those opinions. In fact, no group supports continuing mayoral control of the schools.

By a 53 – 35 percent margin, voter trust the teachers’ union more than Bloomberg to protect the interests of public school students.

Voters approve 45 – 34 percent of the job Schools Chancellor Dennis Walcott is doing, his highest approval rating so far. Parents of public school children approve 51 – 34 percent.

“New Yorkers don’t like Bloomberg’s take-over of the schools. Most favor shared control,” Carroll said. “And never forget: it’s a labor town. Despite all the outcry against the teachers union, New Yorkers believe the union would do a better job protecting kids than Bloomberg.”