Federal Investigation of Schools

July 24, 2009

Valley West confirms FBI seizing documents

The subpoenas are the latest to be served on several area educational institutions in corruption probe.

By Terrie Morgan-Besecker tmorgan@timesleader.com
Law & Order Reporter
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KINGSTON – The federal agents involved in the ongoing corruption probe in Luzerne County served a subpoena seeking business records from the Wyoming Valley West School District on Tuesday, Superintendent Chuck Suppon confirmed.

Suppon said FBI agents Richard Southerton and Joseph Noone delivered the subpoena Tuesday afternoon. District officials were still in the process of gathering the information that was requested as of Thursday, he said.

Suppon declined to identify the records the agents are seeking.

“It’s an ongoing investigation. At this point I can’t comment,” he said. “I can say the district will be in full compliance with any request made by the FBI.”

U.S. Attorney Martin Carlson also declined to comment on the investigation.

Southerton and Noone are among the lead investigators in the ongoing probe of alleged corruption within Luzerne County government and several school districts that to date has resulted in the arrest of eight persons, including three school officials.

Valley West board members were advised of the subpoenas during a board meeting Wednesday.

Brian Dubaskas, who has served on the board for two years, said he could not discuss specifics. He did say authorities are looking at records dating back prior to his election to the board.

Dr. Michael Garzella, who retired as superintendent last July said he does not know what records are being sought.

Garzella followed August Piazza, who served as superintendent from 2001 to 2006, and Andrew Marko, who served as superintendent from 1994 to 2001.

Contacted Thursday, Marko said he does not know anything about the investigation, noting he only learned about it from news reports

Piazza did not return two phone messages left at his home.

The subpoenas are the latest to be served on several area educational institutions. Previously, agents sought records from Wilkes-Barre Area, Pittston Area, Wilkes-Barre Area Career & Technical Center and Luzerne County Community College.

Evidence gathered in those investigations led to charges against former Pittston Area Superintendent Ross Scarantino and Wilkes-Barre Area school directors Brian Dunn and James Height. Each of the men has been charged with accepting payments to influence the awarding of contracts within their districts. Height and Scarantino recently pleaded guilty to the charges. Dunn’s case is pending.

Piazza is a former Pittston Area School director and previously served with Dunn and Height on the Wilkes-Barre Vo-Tech board. Piazza is also currently a member of the board of trustees at LCCC. Scarantino had served on the LCCC board with Piazza until 2008, when he was booted from the board in a shake-up orchestrated by Luzerne County Commissioner Chairwoman Maryanne Petrilla.

Garzella, the former Valley West superintendent, said he’s concerned about the public’s perception of the district given the latest developments. He hopes the investigation there wraps up quickly.

“Any time a federal agency comes in and subpoenas records, the perception is obvious that someone was doing something that was inappropriate,” Garzella said. “That’s not a good reflection on any school district or organization to be put under scrutiny. My hope is, that whatever information they’re looking for, it’s unfounded.”

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