Published: December 09, 2008 10:49 pm      

School board member faces charges in dispute

CRESSON — A member of the Penn Cambria school board faces summary charges for allegedly shoving a former district administrator on school property.

A hearing for Terry M. Krug, 48, of Colonel Drake Highway, Ashville, is scheduled for this morning in front of District Judge Galen Decort of Portage.

Nontraffic citations of harassment and disorderly conduct were filed by Guy Monica of Colonel Drake Highway, Ashville, for an incident that occurred at 10 p.m. Oct. 21 in the 400 block of Linden Ave., Cresson.

The address is that of the Penn Cambria High School and The Tribune-Democrat has learned that the incident occurred in the library following adjournment of a Penn Cambria school board meeting.

A woman answering the phone at the Krug home said he was working out of town.

Monica, who regularly attends school board meetings, said Tuesday he was taken by surprise when Krug approached him.

“I feel it was unfortunate, it was unprovoked, and I saw no reason for it,” Monica said.

A number of people have been subpoenaed to testify at the hearing, including Penn Cambria Superintendent Mary Beth Whited of Lilly, board President George Pyo of Cresson and board member Thomas Creehan of Lilly.

Also on the subpoena list is board secretary Judith Muldoon of Lilly and Lewis Hale of Altoona.

The citations were filed by Cresson police.

Krug caused a public inconvenience and annoyance by arguing and shoving Monica in a public building – the high school – for no legitimate purpose, according to the brief outline of the nature of the offense.

The school district is located in the magisterial district of District Judge Charity Nileski. However, court officials said Tuesday the case was transferred to Decort because Nileski’s husband is a member of the Penn Cambria school board.

Krug was elected to the board in 2005 and is completing his third year.

Monica, who ran unsuccessfully for school board last year, spent 37 years in education as a teacher and administrator.

He retired from Penn Cambria in October 2007.