What the duck?

Making a bet — and losing — isn’t all it’s quacked up to be.

Poet Christian principal Bill Maslyar made a friendly wager with his staff, students and parents that if they could reach the lofty goal of $20,000 in a September fundraiser, he would wear a duck costume for the school’s annual Halloween walkathon.

Students who sold baked goods, jewelry and magazine subscriptions received small rubber ducks as incentives during their fundraising sales, and the corresponding duck costume idea was pitched by members of the Poet Christian Parent-Teacher-Student Association who ran the fundraiser.

With sales of $21,800 in the two-week period, the principal was destined to wear the fowl costume created by PTSA members. A furry yellow body, bright orange socks and felt flipper feet made up Maslyar’s outfit as he watched over the 650 students in the school’s fourth annual Halloween walkathon.

“I thought I was home free — this was one of the easiest bets I could make” Maslyar said as students circled around the blacktop.

As the walkathon got under way, the principal, in recognition of his flashy getup, was given the “best costume” award for the day.

Tracy Unified School District eliminated all money earlier this year for field trips and office supplies, as part of $12.5 million in overall cuts for the 2010-11 school year.

The success of September’s fundraiser will keep all of Poet Christian’s field trips funded for the rest of the school year and cover the expense of classroom supplies. Ongoing online sales could push the fundraising total up to $24,000, which would give the school a chance to improve its technology supplies.