Published: February 08, 2010 11:42 pm      

College prof to fill seat at C. Cambria

EBENSBURG — A college professor from Cambria Township was appointed to fill a vacant seat on the Central Cambria School District board.

President Judge Timothy Creany, who made the appointment Monday, administered the oath of office to Thomas Woods in a brief ceremony at the courthouse.

Woods fills a two-year term that was left vacant when Dennis Simmers was elected last year to both a four-year and two-year term and opted to accept the longer term.

In December, the board twice split, 4-4, between Ronald Mastrine, a former board member, and Richard Bauer.

Because there was not a majority supporting either one the vacancy automatically went to the court to be filled. Five people had applied for the post.

The school board has been hit with controversy recently over whether to build a middle school or add to the high school.

In making the appointment, Creany said: “It is my hope that this will be a reset in discussions and workings of the board. I don’t mean to say I see acrimony, but I hope with the addition of Tom it will improve discussions and cooperation.”

Woods, 45, never ran for political office nor served on a school board. He said he has been active in the local community, including work with the school district’s foundation and the Young Peoples Community Center.

He is an associate professor in the physician assistant program at St. Francis University in Loretto.

Woods, in reply to questions from media, did not take a stand on the middle school issue, saying that he wanted to review the data, particularly on what is best for children in the sixth, seventh and eighth grades.

The main goal is the education of students while taking into consideration fiscal concerns, he said.

Last year, the school board approved a design in which a middle school would be added to the high school for grades 6 through 8. Under the design there would be no intermingling with high schools students, even at lunchtime.

Simmers, who is board president, said he looks forward to having Woods on the board.

“He is going to be a high asset to this board,” Simmers said.

“From his remarks, it appears he has a depth of intellect and is a long-range type of fellow.”

Woods and his wife, Elizabeth, have three daughters: Jessica, 10, Mary Beth, 9, and JoAnna, 6, all students at Central Cambria.