Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer weighs in on the mayoral control debate, with areport that urges strengthening Community Education Councils (CECs) and increasing their independence, by transferring their training and supervision from the Department of Education's Office of Family Engagementto the offices of the city's five borough presidents. Stringer says his proposal reflects the "desire to give parents more of a voice in the education decisions that affect their children" -- and that the move could mean savings of up to $5 million, if the work now assigned to OFEA were undertaken by borough president office staff.

From Brooklyn, City Council member (and public school parent) Bill de Blasio charges $57.3 million in overspending by the DOE, on "unnecessary tests, courier services, and an expanded press operation, with a seven-person 'Truth Squad'" -- press monitors who follow DOE coverage. (Gotham Schools has details here,including $10,000 a-school-day fees for courier services.) De Blasio illustrates his charges with a nifty chart, comparing moneys spent with an 'average' teacher's salary of $55,000 a year. While it's a far stretch to think that DOE would abandon its data management system ARIS or dramatically scale back accountability, their cost together would support almost 700 teachers, a calculus many parents might prefer.

Chancellor Klein threatens layoffs for up to 2000 teachers; de Blasio identifies expenditures that could fund more than 1000 teaching positions. Perhaps these savings are in his sights as a contender for the post of Public Advocate -- or in Stringer's field of vision as he contemplates a 2010 Senate run. It's spring; high season for budding campaigns -- and budget fights.