NYC schools superintendent to resign later this year after federal agents seize his devices

NEW YORK (AP) — David Banks, the head of the New York City public school system, announced Tuesday that he will resign at the end of the calendar year, becoming the latest high-level departure from Mayor Eric Adams’ administration. increased federal criminal investigations.

The decision comes weeks after federal agents seized Banks’ phones and devices belonging to the city’s police commissioner, two deputy mayors and a top Adams adviser. Police commissioner Edward Caban resigned earlier this month.

Banks told The Associated Press in his retirement letter that he informed the mayor of his decision to retire this year after getting the school year off to a good start.

Banks, a former teacher, principal and founder of a network of all-boys public schools, has led the city’s public school system since Adams takes office in 2022.

The resignation letter made no mention of multiple ongoing federal investigations into Adams’ senior aides, relatives of aides, campaign fundraising and possible influence peddling.

Adams said in a statement that he was “extremely grateful and proud” of Banks’ accomplishments during his years leading the school system.

Banks’ brother, Philip, is a former police officer who now serves as the city’s deputy commissioner of public safety. Their brother, Terence, a former superintendent of the city’s subway system, ran a consulting firm. promise to connect customers with senior government stakeholders.

Earlier this month, federal investigators seized the cellphones of David and Philip Banks, and devices were also seized from several other high-ranking city officials, including Caban.

David Banks shares a home in Harlem with his partner, Sheena Wright. Sheena Wright is the first deputy mayor to have her devices seized. She has previously declined to talk about the search, telling reporters: “I can’t answer those questions.”

Federal prosecutors have declined to discuss the investigations publicly.

When Adams, a Democrat, appointed David Banks as chancellor, he hailed his friend as a “visionary, leader and innovator who has spent his career fighting on behalf of students.”

Banks founded Eagle Academy in 2004 to provide education to young black and Latino boys who he believed were underserved by the education system.

Prior to her appointment as schools chancellor, Banks oversaw the foundation that funds six Eagle Academy schools, one in each of the New York City boroughs and one in Newark, New Jersey.