Board censures member for inappropriate language
BY JANE MEGGITT
Staff Writer

ALLENTOWN - The Upper Freehold Regional Board of Education has censured member Howard Krieger for allegedly cursing and using a racial slur against a member of the community.

The vote to censure Krieger on Feb. 21 was 7-0, with Krieger abstaining. He was not asked to resign from the board. The censure was for "use of inappropriate language" at the Feb. 7 meeting.

Arun Singh, a local emergency room doctor, has alleged that Krieger made an obscene gesture toward him and used a racial slur after Singh made public comments at the board's Feb. 7 meeting.

Krieger denied making the gesture, and alleged that he was saying to himself, "Don't be a [expletive] hothead" instead of what witnesses have alleged that he said.

Before the board went into closed session on Feb. 21 to discuss the matter, Singh said he found it "a travesty" that Krieger was still sitting on the board.

"Howard Krieger called me a dothead two times," Singh alleged. "I have eyewitnesses who will testify under oath."

Singh had demanded a full public apology and asked for Krieger's letter of resignation from the board to specifically state that he was resigning because he had made a racially insensitive comment.

"He kept telling me he would resign for his own reasons," Singh said. "He made me a final offer and [then] told me he would not resign at all."

In an earlier interview, Krieger said that he had initially agreed to resign but changed his mind.

Krieger, who has an adopted granddaughter from China, said, "He wants me to apologize publicly for racial remarks. I will not admit to horrible things I did not say."

Singh said he brought the matter to the public's attention so the public could see what had transpired.

Board Attorney Viola Lordi told Singh that while he is entitled to speak, she is obliged to remind him that board members also have access to the laws of defamation.

According to Upper Freehold Regional School District Assistant Superintendent Maybeth Conway, less than 10 percent of the school district's student population is considered ethnic minorities. Of the 2,280 students, Conway said 64 are black (non-Hispanic), 55 are Hispanic, two are Native American, 87 are Asian/Pacific Islander, and one is Hawaiian.

Upper Freehold resident John Nanni, who is the parent of two adopted Korean children, said, "I'm strongly against any form of discrimination."

Nanni said he felt that if the incident did indeed occur, it was wrong but that it should be handled outside of board meetings, as it did not happen during the public portion of the meeting. The incident allegedly occurred in the hallway during a break between the meeting's open and closed sessions.

"It sounds as if Howard Krieger acted as an individual and not as a school board member - assuming he acted incorrectly at all," Nanni said.

Nanni said he is aware of Krieger's dedication to the children in the school district. He said he feels an apology is needed but that a resignation is unnecessary because of the work Krieger has done in the past.

Another township resident, James Derasmo, whose mother is from Taiwan, said there is no place for racial insults or inappropriate comments, which he called "deplorable, abhorrent and disgusting."

"If proven true, [the board] should do the right thing," Derasmo said. "I experienced these things as a kid."

Singh said he asked board President Joseph Stampe if he could tell him whether anyone on the board called for Krieger's resignation. He said Stampe could not do so because the matter had been discussed in closed session.

"I am sickened by the board's actions," Singh said. "They keep saying that there is nothing else they could do but censure him. I feel that is an excuse."

He added, "I felt that if the board unanimously [asked] or at least a majority asked for Mr. Krieger to resign, then he may have resigned, but they apparently did not. Apparently, they are not offended by his actions."

Singh continued, "What a shame. Mr. Krieger already insulted me with his words, but now the board has insulted me with their actions."