SAN DIEGO : Board OKs Adult Bingo at School

The education foundation at Madison High School will be able to begin adult bingo, using the proceeds for new computers and other student needs. San Diego city schools trustees on Tuesday voted, 5 to 0, to approve the game at the Clairemont campus.

Supt. Tom Payzant opposed the idea, saying he did not want to introduce gambling on school campuses, even if limited to adult games at night. He also warned that the average San Diegan might conclude that bingo proceeds could obviate the need for more public tax money for education.

But board members, although sympathetic to Payzant’s concerns, said they no longer can fund academics sufficiently, and that bingo is a creative and benign way to supplement school budgets in a small fashion.