News

December 24, 2009

Tipster helps end bet pool at WVW

Superintendent Suppon says he will consult with the school district’s solicitor.

By Jerry Lynott jlynott@timesleader.com
Business Writer
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KINGSTON – A $3,000 Super Bowl betting pool run out of the teachers’ lounge at the Wyoming Valley West Middle School was broken up Wednesday morning after a tipster reported it to the superintendent.

Money and the cardboard with a grid containing 100 blocks that cost $30 each were confiscated, said Charles Suppon, district superintendent.

“I don’t think it’s an appropriate thing to do,” he said of gambling on school property, especially with the ongoing public corruption probe in Luzerne County that ensnared a member of the school board.

Suppon said an anonymous caller alerted him and school board President Joseph Mazur of the pool.

A call to Mazur was not returned.

Suppon said he went to the middle school on Chester Street between 10 and 10:30 a.m. and “by accident” found the grid in the teachers’ lounge.

“To get to the principal’s office you have to walk past the teachers’ lounge,” he said.

Approximately seven or eight of the blocks were filled in and $45 was collected, he added. The money was placed in the safe at the middle school.

Who set up the pool was unknown, said Suppon.

He was able to confirm that all of the money paid in would be paid out with no one profiting from setting up and running the pool. It was “the first thing I checked,” he said.

Suppon said he would contact the district’s solicitor to determine what steps to take next, including discipline and contacting law enforcement.

“Right now all I have is a pool,” he explained.

Attorney Michael J. Hudacek Sr., said he had not heard from Suppon by early afternoon.

“You can’t hide it,” Hudacek said. Suppon was going to have to notify police and let them take care of it, Hudacek said.

A message was left with Kingston police Chief Keith Keiper who was not working Wednesday.

Jerry Lynott, a Times Leader staff writer, can be contacted at 570 829-7237.

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