Former state official accused of sexual misconduct continues in office as school board president
TAMAQUA, Pa. — Within 24 hours of being accused of past sexual misconduct, Larry Wittig resigned as president of the Pennsylvania State Board of Education, was removed from the president’s leadership council at Drexel University, and was asked to give up his seat on the board of trustees at Philadelphia University-Thomas Jefferson University.
But in Tamaqua, Schuylkill County, where Mr. Wittig has been president of the school board for 23 years, it is business as usual.
At a Tuesday night board meeting presided over by Mr. Wittig, there was no discussion from board members or the public of the women who say Mr. Wittig pursued sexual relationships with them when they were teens and he was their coach. After adjourning the meeting, Mr. Wittig said no one has asked him to resign, and he has no plans to.
“Absolutely not,” a visibly agitated Mr. Wittig said. “And that’s it. End of conversation.”
Last month, the Philadelphia Inquirer and Philadelphia Daily News reported that a number of women said Mr. Wittig sought out sexual relationships with them in the early 1980s, when they were rowers at Harriton High School in Lower Merion and he was in his early 30s and married. The team practiced at Vesper Boat Club, where Mr. Wittig was a member.
Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/news/state/2018/01/17/Former-state-official-accused-of-sexual-misconduct-continues-in-office-as-school-board-president/stories/201801170243