The state of education in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania stands at a crossroad, and that crossroad now goes directly through Tamaqua.

On Thursday, Gov. Tom Corbett announced his decision to appoint Larry Wittig, president of the Tamaqua Area School Board of Education, to the position of chairman of the Pennsylvania State Board of Education. Wittig's appointment will fill a vacancy left by the resignation of Joseph M. Torsella, who has been confirmed to the post of U.S. Representative to the United Nations for U.N. Management and Reform.Wittig is humbled by the governor's confidence in his ability to lead the state board, especially in today's economic climate."Due to budget cuts made necessary by the slumping economy, public education is going through a painful purging process," offered Wittig. "In my opinion, throughout time, public education has looked at everything that touches a child's life, including social problems, and ways to provide the best education possible.Public education has tried to fill the many voids our children face, sometimes adding programs that are non-curricular. There is only so much money and so much time available, so, when it comes to basic education, we must make decisions with one particular goal in mind - to provide our children with an education that will prepare them for higher education or to enter the work force. I see the glass as being half full - short term pain that will lead to long term benefits.The purging process presently being undertaken in every school district within this commonwealth is a healthy process, necessary but painful. And the trick is to make cuts without harming the basic educational process."The Pennsylvania State Board of Education was created by the General Assembly in 1963 and re-established in 1988. The board consists of 17 members appointed by the governor, for overlapping six-year terms, as well as four members of the General Assembly, the majority and minority chairs of the Pennsylvania House and Senate Education Committees.Wittig was appointed to the state board in June of 2001 by then Gov. Tom Ridge. Currently serving his second term to the state board, he chairs the School and University Safety Committee and is a member of the Council of Basic Education, the Academic Standards Committee, and the Student Health and Wellness Committee.A certified public accountant, in private practice for the past 34 years, Wittig graduated from Drexel University, Philadelphia, in 1972 with a bachelor's degree. He returned to Drexel and earned an MBA in 1976. He is senior partner at Wittig CPA'S in Tamaqua. He is also president of the Environmental Awareness Corp., Inc., and Tamaqua Transfer, Inc. Elected to the Tamaqua Area School Board of Education in 1995, he has served as its president since shortly after being sworn in.Active in many civic organizations, Wittig's academic oriented credentials also include: Schuylkill Education and Economic Advisory Council, 2004-2006; Governor's Commission on Academic Standards, 1996-1998; Lehigh Carbon Community College Ambassador, 2002 to present; Philadelphia University Board of Trustees, 2005 to present; and the Schuylkill Community Education Council, 2002 to present.He and his wife, Karen, live in West Penn Township and have three children: Amy, Carl and Brianna.When making the announcement on Thursday, Gov. Corbett noted, "Larry Wittig brings an exceptional depth of knowledge and experience in education, as well as the understanding of fiscal responsibility, to help us achieve our academic goals for Pennsylvania. He has been involved in every level of the education system, from his local school district in Tamaqua, to the board of trustees at Philadelphia University to the State Board of Education."Larry understands the connection between state-level education policies and their impact on teaching and learning. At the same time, he is open to new ideas to improve Pennsylvania's educational system, with the ultimate goal of preparing our young people to be productive citizens with meaningful careers.""The state board," stressed Witting, "does not create legislation. That is entirely up to the House and Senate. The board creates policy, just like school boards do on the local level."The state board constantly reviews and appraises the state of education in Pennsylvania, taking into account educational objectives, alternative programs of study and the operating efficiency of the system. Instead of serving on committees, the chairman refers studies and investigations to one of the board's councils, the Council of Higher Education and/or the Council of Basic Education, as well as defending any findings and recommendations to the state legislature.With possible changes to the educational system looming due to budget constraints, Wittig may find himself spending a lot of time traveling away from his Tamaqua crossroad.