Will Any Mayoral Candidate Address School Corruption, or Are Trump and NYC Kids Left Without Hope?

Here’s a challenge for the mayoral candidates: Who will commit to tackling corruption in public schools by strengthening the Special Commissioner of Investigation?

As The Post’s Susan Edelman highlights, reports of misconduct by city school employees have “soared” — yet the SCI investigates an increasingly minimal portion of these complaints.

Last year, only 484 investigations were conducted out of a record 11,874 complaints, resulting in a dismal 4% investigation rate, down from 7.2% in 2019.

Moreover, the SCI operates on a mere $6.3 million budget to oversee the $39 billion Department of Education budget — with no budget increase in the last five years, it is falling behind due to inflation.

Additionally, when the SCI uncovers evidence of misconduct, DOE officials often resolve issues discreetly, frequently with lenient agreements that prevent real accountability for wrongdoers — allowing them to stay employed while retaining their vacation, holiday, and pension benefits.

“The system truly promotes corruption, since if you’re caught, nothing happens,” asserts City Councilman Robert Holden (D-Queens), reflecting the views of DOE whistleblowers and many parents; he urges a federal investigation into the DOE.

The SCI scrutinizes cases involving sexual and/or inappropriate behavior as well as financial misconduct; underfunding this watchdog only empowers the wrongdoers.

City Councilwoman Gale Brewer, who is advocating for more financial support for the SCI, states: “I assume that people don’t want to be investigated.”

Once again, the well-being of children is compromised for the sake of adult special interests profiting from the schools.

If none of the mayoral candidates are willing to address this issue, we hope Holden can engage his fellow Queens representatives in taking it seriously.