Centennial School Board members chose from four candidates – including a former board director – to fill a seat left after the death of long-time Director Jane Schrader Lynch.
Lynch died January 3 after having been elected in November to serve another term on the board. She had completed 18 years of service on Centennial’s school board.
Eric Baranowski, a recently retired Warminster Township police officer with 35 years of service, was selected from four candidates interviewed for the position during a regular school board meeting Tuesday night.
Centennial board members voted 5-3 to appoint Baranowski, including the board’s four Democrats. Republican Charley Martin joined Democrats and voted yes. Republicans Flemming Godiksen, Michael Hartline and Katheleen Maguire voted no.
In addition to Baranowski, the other candidates to fill the open Region III seat, which represents Warminster Township, were: Neal Miller, an outspoken critic of Superintendent Abram Lucabaugh’s hiring last year, Centennial parent Michael Binder and former school board president Mary Alice Brancato.
During his interview Baranowski said “you [need to] hear all sides. You have to be able to listen to the community, the superintendent and fellow members of the board and work together to come up with reasonable decisions” to benefit the district, children, staff and community.
Baranowski said his law enforcement experience had prepared him to deal with a wide variety of issues, problems, challenges and to make informed decisions.
A Centennial Class of 1988 graduate, Baranowski will be sworn in and take his seat at the next board meeting. His political party affiliation was unavailable as of publication.
It’s unclear what Centennial school board’s majority will be after Baranowski takes his seat – the current political party board split is 4-4.
On November 24, 2025, Democratic Rep. Brian Munroe presented Baranowski with a service award recognizing his 35 years of service as a Warminster Township police officer. Baranowski retired from the force that month.
November’s election outcome shook up Centennial’s school board, as voters ousted two Republican members, closing the GOP board majority gap by voting out Brancato, a former board president and a supporter of Lucabaugh’s controversial appointment, and Mark Gindhart.
At its December reorganization meeting, Centennial directors voted 6-3 to install Democrats Patti Crossan as president and Tony Sadowski and vice president.
READ: Dear Centennial School Board: We Spoke. Many of You Did Not Listen. And Now We Voted You Out
Republicans Charles Martin and Jane Schrader Lynch voted with Democrats Crossan and Tony Sadowski, along with newly elected Democrats Krista DiPaolo and Karen Krieger.
Republicans Godiksen, Hartline and Maguire voted no.
When conflict arises, Baranowski said it’s important to remain calm and explain the reasons unpopular decisions are made and to try to bridge the gap with listening and understanding.
“See if you can meet [people] at least half way. You don’t want to create enemies in the district – because then nothing gets done,” he said.
Listening to both sides of an issue, understanding the needs, concerns and beliefs – and working to keep situations from escalating – would be among his objectives as a school board director.
“Mrs. Lynch was a valuable asset to the school district and I don’t know of anybody who could possibly fill her shoes…I would do my best to at least partially fill her shoes,” Baranowski said during his interview.
Tuesday’s board meeting can be viewed here.
