Beware the Circling Vultures - SchoolBook I'm not a big fan of Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, at least not since he burdened our schools in 2011 with the worst appointment since Spiro Agnew, that of a former publishing executive as schools chancellor. But let's not forget that Mr. Bloomberg also appointed Joel I. Klein, who succeeded in raising high school graduation rates for the first time in more than half-a-century. He did so by closing failed schools, opening better new small ones, investing in leadership, empowering those school leaders to make the important decisions, partnering with the private sector, dismantling ineffective parts of central, putting more money into school budgets, and holding those of us who were privileged to work with the city's schoolchildren accountable for the highest levels of student performance and achievement. As a consequence, graduation rates soared to 65 percent after remaining stagnant at 50 percent since the mid-1950"s. In the process, there were many who felt disenfranchised. Politicians could no longer use the schools for patronage purposes. Publishers could no longer meet with the chancellor or a district superintendent and walk away from the meeting with a multimillion dollar deal without further scrutiny or competitive bids. Unions no longer had unlimited access to central and district office officials, nor could they control school policy as they had in the past. Principals could no longer consider their schools personal fiefdoms whether their kids were learning or not. And teachers could no longer hide behind the shield of student and family poverty to avoid consequences for their students" failures. It's small wonder these voices have united once again to drown out the needs of children. Once the presidential elections are behind us, attention will turn toward the contest that will determine the next occupant of Gracie Mansion. For the first time in nearly two decades, the next mayor will likely be a Democrat. As a life-long registered Democrat, I look forward to that prospect. However, there are vultures circling this contest who would once again reduce our schools to the patronage mills of yesteryear, when no one was accountable for what happened to our kids. These disgruntled former school system leaders have found comfortable political appointments and share war stories among themselves while they await a time when a misguided city manager calls them to service once again, and they can return our schools to the imagined perfection of the past. The mere thought is enough to rob me of a good night's sleep. If I were fortunate enough to advise our next mayor, I would counsel to evaluate the reforms of the past decade before deciding to adopt or dismiss them. I would recommend that we look to the future rather than the past in selecting the next chancellor. And I would respectfully suggest that the glory days of public education lie ahead of us to a time when every child, regardless of race and socioeconomic status, is able to achieve at the highest levels. Eric Nadelstern is a professor at Teachers College. Prior to that, he was a deputy chancellor in the Department of Education.