Tamaqua Area School Board met on Tuesday, but rather than any agenda item, the focus was squarely on its leader.

About 50 people crowded the room to discuss recent sexual misconduct allegations against board President Larry Wittig when he was coaching a college rowing team more than 30 years ago.

Wittig admitted to the Times News in December that he had sex with the student, saying it was a “lapse in judgment.” His accuser, Annette DeMichele, said it was consensual at the time, but now, looking back, she felt she was unduly influenced by her coach.

After the article was published in The Philadelphia Inquirer, Wittig resigned from his position as chairman of the state board of education, but said his position in Tamaqua would be determined by his fellow board members.

At Tuesday’s board meeting, just four attendees spoke, three voicing staunch support for Wittig.

However, Liz Pinkey, of Tamaqua, said she sees things differently.

“Regardless of what Mr. Wittig has done, has not done, and has admitted, and let’s be clear, there has been an admission, what he has been accused of, this situation is a distraction and a black mark on this district and this town,” Pinkey said.

Pinkey, a correspondent who was acting as a resident and parent of the school district, said she was speaking on behalf of several members of the community.

Pinkey said Wittig removed himself from the state school board of education.

“In fact, I commend him for stepping down and removing the taint from that organization that has now followed him here,” she said.

Pinkey added that the board at Drexel and Thomas Jefferson have also asked him to break associations with them.

“I am glad that he respected their wishes and stepped away,” she said. “Do the people of this town deserve any less? Do the students of our district deserve any less?”

Pinkey said, “Whether or not the things that happened that have been described by several women, the story is out there.

“This cannot be ignored. There has been and will continue to be an aftermath, an aftermath that this district and these children do not deserve to have haunt them and hang over their heads,” she said.

Pinkey asked what is the district going to do about the looming budget crisis, why doesn’t the sixth grade have enough textbooks for every student in the class in every class, what is this board going to do to prevent Tamaqua from becoming the next Parkland, and the next statistic.

“I would like to know the answers to those things. I would like to have a conversation about those things. But instead, I’m here wasting my time and your time, asking you why someone who has exhibited such poor judgment, and acted so inappropriately, continues to be your leader and our leader,” she said.

Pinkey said that after the last board meeting the statement was made that no one had asked for Wittig’s resignation.

“I am here, I am asking for it now, and I am asking for it on behalf of those who are too scared to speak up and for those whose voices have been ignored for too long,” she said.

Pinkey said she spoke despite a call from Wittig’s wife, Karen. She said she is involved with youth organizations that utilize the district facilities, and that while she could lose that privilege — and while her children could well face repercussions in school — that was a chance she was willing to take.

“I am sure that there are many ways that you, a man of wealth, privilege, connection and obviously many friends, can make my life miserable,” she said. “I will overcome anything you want to throw at me.”

Pinkey added, “But if I don’t stand up here tonight and say that Larry Wittig needs to step down from this board and should resign immediately, I will lose my integrity, and you don’t get integrity back.”

Praise for Wittig

Michael Kistler, of New Ringgold, praised Wittig and the board for its efforts over the years.

“I’d like to take the time to thank the board and Mr. Wittig for an outstanding job that they do, and continue to do,” Kistler said.

Kistler said he supported Wittig.

“Mr. Wittig, I don’t believe that you’ve been accused of a crime,” he said. “I don’t think you’ve been charged with a crime, have you?”

Pinkey interjected, and said Wittig has “admitted to committing adultery.”

“I’m not saying it’s a crime. It’s a moral question,” Pinkey said.

Kistler said Wittig is “an upstanding man in our community.”

“He has done so much for this school district; we need him more than he needs us,” he said. “Many of you people, especially people in town, are in their homes because of this gentleman right here. I would have nobody else other than the people right here or past board members to help run this school for my children.”

Kistler said the district needs to be concerned with other problems.

“Talk to other parents at other school districts, and they’ll tell you this is the number one school board right now in the state of Pennsylvania,” he said. “When people look at our school, they look at our school board.”

Timothy Houser, of West Penn Township, told Wittig he was sorry to see that he left the state board of education “because that was a star for small Tamaqua.”

Houser said he believes Wittig has led the school board and convinced people who probably didn’t want to run for the school board to do so, and in doing so, “has organized a great group of people” that have maintained level taxes.

“So Larry, I hope you stay on the board. You’ve organized a great board,” Houser said. “Under your tutelage, this school district has elevated itself to a point where we are envied by other school districts in this area.”

As for the allegations made against Wittig, Houser said, “You’re talking about things that Larry did, yes, he admitted he had an affair, that’s under the water, 35 years ago.”

Eileen Kmetz, a business partner of Wittig, said, “I want to commend the board for having the courage to do the right thing, supporting my dear friend and business partner Larry Wittig, and for recognizing all the good he has done for the community.”

Kmetz added, “He is certainly an asset to the Tamaqua school board, and you are very lucky to have him.”

Referring to a case in 1970, when Wittig was charged with rape and statutory rape of his sister’s 15-year-old friend, Kmetz said Wittig was acquitted of any charges.

She added that in the 23 years that she has worked with him, “there has never been one dirty joke told, not one sexual innuendo, not one inappropriate look, not one inappropriate touch involving myself or any of my co-workers.”

After Tuesday’s meeting, Wittig said he does not plan to step down from the board. His term is set to expire in 2019.