Weatherly Area School Board President April Walters publicly censured board member Gerald Grega at an Aug. 5 caucus meeting after Grega posted what she described as the names of five students with outstanding cafeteria balances on a public Facebook group.

“On or about Aug. 4, Board Member Grega posted the identities of five WASD students who owe balances to the cafeteria/lunch fund on the public Facebook group known as the ‘WASD-CITIZENS GROUP,’ ” Walters said in a prepared statement, which was also posted on the school district’s website.

Walters, who is administrator of the Facebook group, said she removed the post immediately.

“Had Mr. Grega sought my approval, I would have immediately denied his request since publishing the names of these students quite possibly constitutes a violation of federal and state privacy laws, and a violation of federal/state debt collection laws,” she said.

Grega disputes that characterization. In a written notice addressed to the district’s board solicitor, he contends the post did not involve current students.

“I posted no information of any WASD student; I posted post-graduated prior student names. Embarrassing? Maybe — but it was not the intent. Awareness of the perpetual cancellations was the intent, using the information provided to the entire board by our administration,” Grega wrote.

He also contests the legal standing of the censure itself.

“The statement of censure is awkward, but completely invalid as no formal resolution or vote to approve was ever held by our board of directors,” Grega wrote.

Walters, in her statement, said the incident was not an isolated one.

“This is not the first time that Mr. Grega has deliberately chosen to disregard board policies with which he disagrees. Nor, unfortunately, do I anticipate it to be the last,” she said. “Mr. Grega’s latest, brazen disregard for the rules governing this board and its members has unnecessarily exposed WASD to potential legal liability, public ridicule and contempt.”

In addition to the censure, Walters banned Grega from serving on any district committees and said the board is exploring legal options under Pennsylvania statutory law.

Three Weatherly-area residents addressed the board during public comment.

“I want to speak plainly: It was shameful, and it caused unnecessary embarrassment to the students,” Sean Culp said. “There were proper legal and ethical ways this situation could have been handled without exposing children publicly. Publicly posting children’s names in this manner goes directly against the community.”

Erin DeGennaro, a teacher and parent of four students in the district, said she came specifically to demand a formal censure.

“I was disgusted at his actions and his targeting of children. When you target children — and I consider every child in this district one of my own — if they are hungry, I will feed them. If they are scared, I will comfort them. If they are in danger, I will protect them,” DeGennaro said.

DeGennaro also announced plans to take the matter to court. She said she intends to appeal to the Carbon County Court of Common Pleas to have Grega removed from the board and banned from running for elected office for five years.

Christie Houser, a former board member, raised questions about how Grega obtained the names in the first place. “When I was on the board, we were not given individual names. When did that practice change? Who authorized it?” Houser asked. She added that she brought a petition to file with the Carbon County Court of Common Pleas requesting Grega’s removal.

Before the meeting adjourned, board member William Knepper asked Grega to address those in attendance.

“I would like to ask Jerry — would he like to make a statement and apologize to the parents here tonight for posting the students’ names on social media,” Knepper said.

“I have no comment at this time,” Grega responded.

Knepper pressed the point.

“So, in other words, you think what you did was right?” he asked. Grega did not answer. “You put students’ names online, and you’re not even man enough to apologize to the people that are here tonight for doing that?” Knepper continued.

After receiving no response, Knepper added: “I do not think he should be here. He won’t work with us. We have given him every chance to bring his knowledge to this board; but instead, it’s just chaos.”

“Disagree there, Billy,” Grega responded.

The dispute carried into the general meeting on Wednesday, where Grega questioned why his name had been removed from the Budget/Finance Committee. Superintendent Dr. Robert Croop reminded him that Walters had removed him from all committees at the Aug. 5 caucus meeting.

“I don’t think she can do that. Not from the Budget Committee. That’s a meeting of the whole board,” Grega said.

Board solicitor Christopher Slusser said he would research the question.

“The president generally has the authority to assign committees, but I will look into your specific question regarding the Finance Committee,” Slusser said.

In his written notice, Grega demanded reinstatement to the three committees he had previously served on — Policy/Personnel, Transportation/Property and Budget/Finance — citing a federal case, Montemurro v. Jim Thorpe Area School District, as legal precedent. He also demanded a public apology from Knepper, warning that non-compliance “will be considered harassment.”

Grega indicated he intends to make the notice public on social media. He had already responded to the censure on the Facebook group where the original post appeared.