*Correction – An earlier version of this article wrongly attributed the quote in the subhead to school board member Jane Schrader Lynch rather than Nicole Lynch of Upper Southampton Township. We apologize for the error.*
Amid calls for greater transparency over its hiring practices, the Centennial School District school board voted 6-2 to appoint Kathleen “Katie” Veisz to the position of assistant director of student services at a regular meeting Tuesday night.
Veisz was a Central Bucks special education administrator placed on administrative leave in April, along with other administrators and Superintendent Steven Yanni, over her alleged role in mishandling investigations and abuse allegations reported in November 2024, of special education students at Jamison Elementary School.
During a roll call vote, Board President Mary Alice Brancato Board Secretary Mark Gindhart along with members Michael Hartline, Kathleen Maguire, Charles Martin and one Democrat, Tony Sadowski voted yes to approve Veisz’s hiring. Democrats Pattie Crossan and Jane Schrader Lynch voted no.
Board Vice President Flemming Godiksen did not attend the meeting.
There was no board discussion before or after the contract votes.
In an email after the vote, Martin said independent research regarding Veisz including his reading of the Disability Rights Pa Investigative Report and many other news reports.
“Although Mrs Veisz was initially named, nothing further was found. In fact, the parents of the student spoke in her defense. Incident reporting is extremely important but others seem to have dropped the ball,” he said, adding Veisz will “be an asset to our district.”
Nancy Pontius, a Warminster resident, teacher, parent and spokesperson for a grassroots advocacy group,“Concerned Citizens of Centennial School District”, opposed Veisz’s appointment.
“She received information about the child abuse allegations at Jamison Elementary days before anyone called ChildLine, and she failed to report that information immediately. We do not want anyone named in the child abuse case regarding Jamison Elementary in Centennial School District,” Pontius said.
Republican Bucks County District Attorney Jennifer Schorn has so far declined to bring charges after several investigations into the Jamison abuse allegations.
ChildLine is Pennsylvania’s mandatory child abuse agency for those considered mandatory reporters, which includes those employed by public school districts.
Ahead of the meeting, Lynch confirmed Centennial is in new territory regarding the total number of district-wide resignations and positions to fill this year – particularly positions at the administrative and cabinet level. Lynch said there have been 28 total vacancies, though some have been filled with permanent or interim replacements.
“This is a record number of individuals leaving and a pattern,” Lynch said. She declined to comment or speculate on the reason for the employee exodus.
“A special education director will need to be hired as the current employee will be leaving this month. A school resource officer, the human resources director and a few others have also left,”Lynch said.
The Bucks County Intermediate Unit confirmed via email the agency had not been engaged to help Centennial fill open administrator or cabinet-level positions. The Bucks County IU was involved in Centennial’s superintendent search to hire its new Superintendent, Abram Lucabaugh.
Martin said there are always support position vacancies such as bus drivers, teachers’ aides, cafeteria workers, custodians and security staff – and this year’s open support positions were not exceptional.
“What was unusual was the high number of staff positions: assistant superintendent, human resources director, three special education [positions] and transportation [supervisory position]…staffing probably due to the administration change and other conditions,” Martin said.
At its last meeting, the school board hired David Bolton as interim human resources director until the position can be permanently filled. Bolton was a former Central Bucks Administrator and most recently Pennridge School District superintendent.
In 2023 while at Pennridge, Bolton suddenly announced his retirement during a controversy-plagued period between the district, staff and the community. This included a controversial curriculum audit contract with Mom’s for Liberty aligned Vermilion Education; library book banning and accusations by the Pennridge community over discriminatory practices against LGBTQ+ students and advocates.
Lynch said school board members do not currently receive the resumes of position candidates. At the meeting she called for greater transparency and communication from Lucabaugh and other administrators involved in the hiring process.
“The procedure is that interviews are done by the board president, vice president and an array of administrators that are part of the interview process depending on the position,” Lynch explained ahead of the meeting.
She added several “interim people” have been hired for open positions until they can be permanently filled with new candidates.
“It appears vacancies started to increase after Dr. [Dana] Bedden announced his retirement in 2024,” Lynch said. Bedden stepped down June 30.
Lynch said school board members do not currently receive the resumes of position candidates. At the meeting she called for greater transparency and communication from Lucabaugh and other administrators involved in the hiring process.
During Centennial’s public comment period, Nicole Lynch of Upper Southampton Township asked for public discussion and greater transparency over the district’s hiring practices. She also opposed Tuesday’s hiring of Veisz.
While Lynch acknowledged there have been no wrongdoing findings against Veisz,over her handling of the Jamison allegations; Lynch said hiring Veisz would “further erode any trust you have left with this community.”
“Why take this risk? We’re talking about a physical abuse and cover up scandal where all of the information has not yet come to light. It’s a pretty risky gamble where the well-being of our kids is at stake,” Lynch said.
She urged the board and administrators to “share the process” by which resumes are sought, interviews are conducted and how candidates are vetted for district positions.
“Right now the only logical conclusion many of us can draw is that Dr. Lucabaugh is bringing in his friends and former co-workers with little to no oversight from the board. This smacks of cronyism,” she said.
