The following report by Team 4 investigator Paul Van Osdol first aired on Channel 4 Action News at 5 p.m. on April 12, 2006.

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New court filings reveal some bare-knuckle backroom politics at play in the Upper Saint Clair School District.

Just before the Upper Saint Clair School Board voted down the International Baccalaureate program 5-4, board member Mark Trombetta offered a deal to Superintendent James Lombardo.

In a sworn deposition, Lombardo said Trombetta offered him a quid pro quo -- he would support a pay raise for administrators if Lombardo supported eliminating the IB program.

Beyond that, Trombetta warned Lombardo not to express support for the IB program in public. That caused Lombardo to feel threatened, according to the deposition.

Lombardo said at the same time Trombetta proposed discontinuing the IB program because of its cost, Trombetta advocated "significant funds" for the district hockey team.

As for the cost of IB, before the board voted, Lombardo said it never asked him how much money would be saved by eliminating the program. This despite the fact that board members argued cost was the most important factor to them.

And in fact, eliminating the IB program will cost the district more next year because of increased expenses for retraining teachers. Lombardo estimates the long-term savings at no more than $50,000.

The board said it would replace IB with another program but Lombardo said it never directed him to research or implement a program. Lombardo has "no clue" about the cost of such a program.

Lombardo also provided evidence that board members violated the Sunshine Act by deciding in secret to kill the IB program.

Two days before the board vote, Trombetta told Lombardo IB was dead.

Lombardo also cited numerous e-mail exchanges among the board majority before its meeting.

And Lombardo said the board majority scripted public statements before its meeting. Attorney Julian Neiser for the board majority told Team 4 there was no quid pro quo offered by Trombetta. He also said there were no Sunshine Act violations. He could not say whether board members asked the superintendent about the IB program cost.