An attorney yesterday said he is preparing a lawsuit against the South Butler County School District on behalf of a couple who claim a Knoch High School golf coach threatened their son for discussing the pending teachers strike.

Attorney James L. Cook III said the youth, Jack Boros, a 15-year-old sophomore who plays on the school's golf team, was among the six players aboard a school bus returning from a Sept. 18 match at the Pittsburgh Field Club, when the subject of the teachers strike came up.

Suze Boros, the boy's mother, said the coach, Rob Voltz, was sitting in the front of the bus.

"My son said, 'If the teachers don't like their jobs, they should find another profession,' " Mrs. Boros said.

Mrs. Boros said Mr. Voltz, who is a teacher in the school district, jumped out of his seat and said, "Shut your mouth or I will come back there and beat the [expletive] out of you."

"We have a grown man threatening a 15-year-old boy," Mr. Cook said. "The young man was in total shock and in fear for his physical safety."

Mrs. Boros, 47, said she spoke with the coach the next day. She said Mr. Voltz apologized and blamed his actions on the pressure of the strike talks. Teachers in the South Butler County School District went on strike Monday.

But Mr. Cook said the coach's apology was "irrelevant."

"There is no circumstance in which it is appropriate for a teacher to threaten a student," he said. "The fact that the school district is not taking action to suspend this coach or at least test his mental health for physically threatening a 15-year-old boy, is over the top. That's why Mrs. Boros and I thought we have to take legal action, not only to protect her son but possibly other students."

Mrs. Boros' lawsuit also will target Superintendent Dr. Frank C. Prazenica Jr. and Mr. Voltz.

Thomas W. King III, of Dillon McCandless King Coulter & Graham in Butler, the law firm representing the school district, sent a letter to Mr. Cook saying the superintendent had investigated the incident and "will take appropriate disciplinary action internally with the coach, but that he will not suspend him from coaching."

"Mr. Voltz will be instructed to conduct himself appropriately, to avoid any conflict with your client, and to avoid any instance of retaliation," Mr. King said.

Butch Santicola, a spokesman for the South Butler County Education Association, the teachers union, declined to comment on behalf of Mr. Voltz.

"We'll guarantee that he'll get his day in court," said Mr. Santicola, who described Mr. Voltz, who also is a basketball coach at the school, as a respected teacher, coach and member of the community.

Mr. Cook said his clients want to see Mr. Voltz dismissed as golf coach and undergo a mental health examination to make sure he is fit to teach.

"And she wants her son to return to the golf team without fear of being threatened," he said.

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