To herald the new school year, the newslast week was filled withfirst day of school stories. Articles spotlit new schools, new charter schools, andcharter school networks new to New York; others described overcrowded schools, schoolenrollmentissues and schoolscheduling issues;yet more explored poorlyperforming schools,projected shortages of schools in the future, and traffic problems around schools.

Even in this maelstrom, a significant amount of conversation swirled around mayoral control of the Department of Education andwhether it would be renewed, especially in light of the recommendationsmade by the Public Advocate's commission of experts. Despite the commission's support (with caveats) for mayoral control, Bloomberg slammed their suggestions, saying he "can't take it very seriously." But just one day before his harsh outburst, the Mayor held a press conference decrying school bullies and introducing newanti-bullying regulations.

Although term limits most likely mean a Bloomberg exit from City Hall, some movers and shakers want to put Chancellor Klein up for the job. Parents, meanwhile, are taking school reform into their own hands - in both in legalandillegal ways.