Pa. school board leader pleads guilty in probe

(AP) — A school board president in northeastern Pennsylvania has pleaded guilty in federal court to a charge that he participated in a scheme to sell a teaching job.

Sixty-five-year-old Frank Pizzella Jr. pleaded guilty on Thursday to brokering a $5,000 bribe in 2004 between a member of the Wilkes-Barre Area School Board and a teacher seeking a job in the school district.

Pizzella faces a maximum of five years in prison, three years probation and a $250,000 fine. His sentencing is scheduled for May 10.

He resigned from his school board position Wednesday. The resignation is effective Monday, Feb. 8.

Two other Wilkes-Barre Area School Board members pleaded guilty last year to taking bribes and are no longer in office.