Contracts at the cube

FBI seeking documents from LCCC

LCCC has received criticism in the last year for the way the board of trustees handled the awarding of contracts when Ross Scarantino was chairman of LCCC’s Board of Trustees.

Scarantino, Pittston Area School District’s superintendent, agreed to plead guilty to federal charges May 20 for receiving money for supporting a contractor seeking work with the school district.

No bid contracts are nice when you can get them.

Former Pittston Area School Director Tony Rostock got a mere pitanance of $30,000 to do some landscapping at LCCC.
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Precept Associates received a nice premium to oversee the construction of a building and Intellacom got $130K+ to install spy cameras before they were fired because they didn't fulfill the terms of the contract. The Pittston Area School District also paid Intellacom $300,00o for a survallience system and the Wilkes-Barre Area Career and Tech School hired them when Brian Dunn and Jim Height were on the board. Dunn and Height are also facing charges of accepting bribes. I'm certainly not accusing Intellecom or any other outfit of wrongdoing but I do find it interesting that they are mention in just about every story about local school officials taking bribes.

In more LCCC news former Dean Peter Moses is collecting unemployment compensation while awaiting trial on theft and receiving stolen property charges.

Another day another indictment

The FBI shows up at the Pittston Area School District with a subpoena for school board minutes and the next thing you know Superintendent Ross Scarantino is indicted and arrested for taking bribes from contractors. He is out on bail and has asked for a leave of absence. US Attorney Martin Carlson noted that this was “the first charge in an ongoing investigation into allegations that teachers and contractors were required to provide money or anything else of value in connection with being hired or obtaining a public contract.” This is probably just another example of how government business is bid out in Luzerne County but this time it involved money from the Federal Government. The School Board members are all “shocked,” “saddened” and “surprised” by the charge . What next ?

Update: This dropped into my inbox yesterday

"CUZ, YOU GOTTA BE FRIGGIN KIDDING ME FBI WHO? MINGIA, WHAT ARE MY COUSINS GOING TO DO NOW?....HEY, LET'S GO DOWN THE GRAMERCY FOR MEATBALLS".....