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School Board Fires Corrupt Superintendent

School Board Fires Corrupt Superintendent - Monday, June 29, 2009 at 11:48PM EST

Reported by: Joe Holden
Monday, Jun 29, 2009 @ 11:48pm EST

YATESVILLE, LUZERNE COUNTY- Terminated for cause, Dr. Ross Scarantino's long run as respected educator and administrator came crashing to the ground Monday night. In a unanimous vote, the board of education voted to fire Scarantino. He parts with a severance package in the amount of $22,000, the balance of some sick and vacation time. Taxpayers rebuked it as a smack in the face. The board defended the decision calling it a savings of $300,000.

Earlier this month, Scarantino waived his right to a termination hearing. The district would have had to present evidence supporting its argument to terminate. An attorney, acting as a special prosecutor, was paid $150 an hour to gather information. WBRE Eyewitness News learned Monday afternoon that such information was shared locally with at least one administrator. The evidence apparently showed a clearer, comprehensive picture of how Scarantino used his influence to steer contracts and help specific individuals land business at Pittston Area. No official would comment. Since there was no termination hearing, one school leader said the evidence was irrelevant.

More than a month ago, Scarantino signaled his guilty plea to engineering a pay-to-play scheme within the district, steering contracts to select companies for a piece of the action. No company or individual has been named in the U. S. Attorney's probe of the district and its business associations, though names have repeatedly surfaced in local circles.

After Scarantino was terminated, the district voted to appoint Substitute Superintendent George Cosgrove to replace Scarantino. Cosgrove's 5-year contract includes a $120,000 annual salary. Cosgrove said the district will work to be transparent. The school board adopted a new policy that calls for strict oversight of all purchases. It's a marked move given the FBI has focused on no-bid contracts in the district, according to the U. S. Attorney's Office criminal complaint against Scarantino. Cosgrove said the policy now has teeth.
 


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