Gov: School in ‘session’

ALBANY — Gov. Cuomo has called legislators back to Albany Wednesday for a special session to pass a one-year extension for the expiring law giving Mayor de Blasio control of the school system.

But while lawmakers are set to return at 1 p.m. — a week after they ended the regular legislative session without a deal on mayoral control — it’s unclear if they will actually take up the legislation.

“We have to see what it is and then discuss it,” Assembly Democratic spokesman Michael Whyland said.

A Senate Republican spokesman had no comment. But a Senate official said, “It’s really unclear what is going to happen.”

The Assembly wants to pass a straight, no-strings-attached extension of the mayoral control law that is due to expire Friday.

Cuomo (far right) aides said his one-year extension will deal with mayoral control and not be tied to other issues.

“If that’s the deal on the table, we’ll probably take it and go home,” said Assemblyman Joseph Lentol (D-Brooklyn).

But the Senate Republicans want to take up a number of issues important to individual senators.

Senate Deputy Majority Leader John DeFrancisco (R-Syracuse), during an interview Tuesday with upstate public radio said, “I would hope that we don’t do simply an extension of mayoral control. There are many many other issues that have to be resolved.”

He cited charter schools, changes sought by Cuomo to a flood control bill that passed the Legislature, and extending dozens of expiring local taxes, including the personal income tax for New York City.

Cuomo’s proclamation calling for the special session left open the possibility of “other subjects as I may recommend.”

De Blasio (below left) had hoped for a multiyear extension of the law. Spokesman Eric Phillips called the special session “an important step in the right direction."

It’s unclear whether dozens of expiring local taxes — including the city personal income tax — will be part of the special session, though the Legislature at some point will have to address them, a Cuomo source said.

A Cuomo aide said the special session won’t deal with other issues like de Blasio’s push for more speed cameras around schools and Brooklyn Democrat Sen. Simcha Felder’s desire for police outside every city school.

But a bill to beef up pension benefits for some police officers and firefighters may be on the table.