BIG SANDY - Some people in this farm community were disturbed to see a newspaper photo of Big Sandy School Superintendent Ed Ray at casino poker tables, for an event billed as "Montana's Largest Texas Hold 'Em Tournament."

Ray used a personal-leave day Thursday to play cards at the Northern Winz Casino near Havre.

"I've got kids in the school system and I don't like it," said Austin Genereux, a rancher in the Big Sandy area. "I don't mind people playing poker, but not the superintendent during school hours."

Ray placed in the top five during a qualifying round of the poker tournament Thursday, and advanced to Sunday's finals featuring 50 players.

Ray said his secretary, aware he was at the tournament, was able to call his cell phone at anytime in case of an emergency.

"What I do on my time is my business," Ray said.

He said that on Friday, several students slapped him high-fives in school hallways and others congratulated him on his win in the early round.

Ray said the tournament's first qualifying round began Thursday afternoon and he was at school that evening for a negotiation session between the school board and the teachers' union.

Gordon Moes and Thad Willis of the Big Sandy School Board said they were comfortable with Ray's decision to play casino poker during time off work.

"He's of legal age and had the day off," Willis said. "It's none of our business."