A school board official is asking the state Department of Education to temporarily deny Mayor Michael Bloomberg's requests for a waiver that would allow Cathie Black to take the job – saying that the panel must be involved in the process.

In a letter to the state education commissioner, Panel for Educational Policy member Patrick Sullivan says people are complaining that Black's appointment is "simple cronyism." He says people have also come to him expressing concerns about a lack of a vetting process.

Sullivan also says the panel should have time to convene and review the case before any waiver requests are made.

Mayor Bloomberg argues that Black has the managerial skills to run the school system and says she will have a team of education experts to advise her.

"Keep in mind, when I came to office, I don't know how to run a sanitation department or what the issues are," Bloomberg said. "My expertise is in picking good people and then managing it and making sure people work collectively. And I think Cathie is the type of woman who knows how to get people to work together and knows how to deal with budgets."

While the city's lawyer says the mayor is the one who has to ask for a waiver for Black, some disagree.

State law says that request should be made by a "board of education," which some say means the city's Panel for Educational Policy.

It's not clear how the state interprets the law, and the panel is mostly appointed by the mayor anyway.

Sullivan says he still thinks there's a chance they'd reject Black given "the widespread and legitimate doubts raised both by the selection process and the candidate herself."

Black has run Hearst Magazines for 15 years.

She also served as the publisher of New York Magazine and USA Today.

While Black's been staying out of the spotlight, she hasn't been as shy in the past. In a YouTube video dated February 28, 2008, Black talks about her seven rules for success, saying, in part, "It’s easier to ask forgiveness than it is to get permission. Don’t engage people in a discussion if you have already made a decision. And I would urge you to start on the project because if you start asking people their opinion before the project, they can only say two things: yes or no. If you really want it to be a yes, go ahead and start. You can always apologize."

Meantime, parents, educators, and activists held another protest Monday against Black's appointment.

More than two dozen gathered at Borough Hall in Brooklyn.

They say her lack of a education background is a big problem.

"The situation is this. Every parent wants to make sure that every single teacher and coach and program that their kids go to, have people that are qualified in those positions," said one parent.

"She has absolutely no experience. I mean, we want the commission to deny it because it sets a bad example all the way around that it's not what you know, it's who you know," said another.

The protesters say they're also disappointed there was no public input in the appointment.