Blas’ Control Dilemma

Will Mayor de Blasio get a special session of the Legislature to restore his control of the city’s public-school system? It depends on whether he truly wants it.

On Wednesday, the Assembly and state Senate adjourned for the year without extending mayoral control. De Blasio’s lastminute push came up short.

And deservedly so. He held a rally or two, barnstormed black churches, used a few schoolchildren as props — all of which had the air of going through the motions.

Notable at his City Hall rally with labor and elected officials was the absence of the teachers union — which is perfectly happy to see mayoral control die.

More, the United Federation of Teachers despises charter schools — and the block on renewing mayoral control is de Blasio’s and Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie’s refusal to allow for the growth of more charters in the city.

The most telling moments in the mayor’s lobbying effort was his teleconference with former Education Secretary Arne Duncan, who duly pleaded for mayoral control — while also saying there should be room for a compromise to allow for more good charter schools: “I’m all for that.”

In other words, Duncan endorsed the position of Senate Republican leader John Flanagan.

Another sign of de Blasio’s unseriousness is his claim that there will be “tremendous frustration and anger in this city” if control isn’t extended. In fact, last month’s Quinnipiac poll shows the reverse: Even as voters gave de Blasio his highest approval in years, 60 percent to 34 percent, they opposed complete mayoral control of the schools 68-21.

The mayor isn’t going to rally the public or honest experts behind his position. If he’s going to regain control, and avoid a huge humiliation, he’s going to have to compromise on the charter question — and cross the UFT.