Ex-Central Bucks Administrator Named In Child Abuse Case Joins Another District

DOYLESTOWN TOWNSHIP, PA — A former Central Bucks School District administrator named in a child abuse case has been hired by another Bucks County school district.

At its meeting on Tuesday night, the Centennial School Board voted 6-2 to hire Kathleen Veisz, the former CBSD special education supervisor named in a Jamison elementary child abuse case.

Veisz was hired as Centennial's new assistant director of student services. She was previously placed on leave from Central Bucks for her alleged role in mishandling an abuse investigation.

She joins former Central Bucks Schools Superintendent Abram Lucabaugh, who started as Centennial's new leader on July 1. The school board had already added David Bolton, a former Central Bucks administrator, as interim human resources director.

Veisz will earn $154,000 a year in the position and is expected to start by Nov. 1.

Her hiring drew criticism from residents and a parent group over the district's lack of transparency and Veisz's past.

"This is the second former CBSD hire since Lucabaugh has come on board. Not only does this smack of cronyism, but shows a blatant disregard for the well-being of our kids. I have the distinct impression that many board members didn't even know who she was," said Nicole Lynch, an Upper Southampton Township resident and member of the Concerned Citizens of the Centennial School District who fought against Lucabaugh's hiring.

In late August, the Central Bucks School District cut ties with two employees over an incident involving the suspected abuse of students inside a special education classroom at Jamison Elementary School last year and its handling by district administrators, including Veisz.

Lucabaugh's hiring happened in a 5-4 vote and was surrounded by controversy among Centennial School Board members and the community.

Lucabaugh accepted a $700,000 severance payout to leave Central Bucks.

His selection by Centennial was blasted by the concerned citizens group, parents, and several school board members, who said the selection process was weak and did not provide community and school board input. The Bucks County Intermediate Unit conducted the superintendent search.