NEW YORK, NY July 17, 2009 —While Senators passed dozens of bills they could not reach an agreement on legislation to reinstate mayoral control of the New York City schools.

In a vote early this morning, the Senate overwhelmingly rejected an alternative that would have established an expanded city education board that would dilute the mayor's control. The mayoral control bill the Assembly passed last month, was not considered. WNYC's Beth Fertig reports.

REPORTER: The Democrats may once again have the 32 votes they need to control the chamber, following last week's resolution of the Senate leadership crisis. But they still seem to be without any real leadership because they can't agree on how to handle mayoral control. Several members believe the bill the assembly passed last month doesn't contain enough checks and balances to the mayor's power. Of the three amendments they're considering, all would include a parent training center. The Bloomberg administration believes there's no need for any amendments and that some of the changes Democrats seek could be accomplished administratively. But even if they got their 32 members to agree on an amendment, Democrats would the Assembly to sign off, and they assembly's gone home for the summer. For WNYC I'm Beth Fertig.]