Avoca teen accused of attacking teacher
BY RYAN WESTERDAHL HORNELL EVENING TRIBUNE

LYNN BRENNAN/THE EVENING TRIBUNE Avoca Central School was temporarily locked down Wednesday, May 2, after a student allegedly attacked a physical education teacher.

AVOCA - A 17-year-old Avoca Central School student was charged with felony assault after a disciplinary meeting at the school allegedly turned violent Wednesday morning, May 2.

"One of our teachers was physically attacked," said Avoca Superintendent Chris Roser.

The alleged incident occurred when two high school students were brought to an administrative office for disciplinary reasons. While one student was talking to school staff, the second burst into the room and attacked Dan Mead, a physical education teacher, Roser said.

Cristapher J. Zeltwanger, 17, of County Route 105, Avoca, was charged with second-degree assault, a class D felony, and fourth-degree criminal mischief, a misdemeanor. Zeltwanger also allegedly punched a wall, damaging it.

Mead was bruised but not seriously injured.

State police at Bath said Zeltwanger was being disciplined after Mead caught him smoking on school property.

Administrators put the school building on lockdown from 9:15- 10:30 a.m. after the alleged attack. They also contacted state police.

Assemblies were organized to inform the rest of the student body, and to reassure them the situation was isolated and not an emergency. Roser said it was important to quickly disseminate correct information to students and their parents.

"We wanted to make sure parents got as much of the right story as possible," he said.

Zeltwanger was suspended for five days as a preliminary punishment, according to Roser. Five days is the longest a student may be suspended without further legal proceedings. Avoca intends to follow the procedures necessary to increase the punishment, Roser said.

"We have a process we have to go through," he said.

A second Avoca student was charged Wednesday for allegedly providing marijuana to Zeltwanger, police said.

Christian W. Schneider, 18, of Loucks Pond Road, Avoca, was charged with seconddegree criminal sale of marijuana, a felony.

Both men were arraigned in Avoca Town Court. Zeltwanger was jailed without bail, and Schneider was released on his own recognizance.

Both are scheduled to appear in court May 9. + Leader staff writer John Zick contributed to this report.