'It's Not A Done Deal' On Centennial Superintendent: School Director

WARMINSTER, PA — Now that the next Centennial Schools Superintendent candidate has spoken, the nine-member school board will cast its votes Tuesday night on the employment contract of Abram Lucabaugh.

At least one Centennial school board member won't be voting to support the former Central Bucks Schools Superintendent to replace the retiring Centennial Schools Superintendent Dana T. Bedden.

"We don’t have to go down this road. Luckily, my colleagues on the board can still vote no. They can prove where they stand on all of those issues," Centennial School Director Tony Sadowski told Patch recently.

"You can say you’re "for the kids" and that you care about everyone equally, but this is a “watch what they do, not what they say” moment for Centennial," Sadowski said. "This selection would be a slap in the face for students and teachers, and community members who just want to live and learn and be themselves and feel safe. I’m not saying everyone has to agree on every issue; but this board needs to stand up for all students with our words and our votes."

Lucabaugh answered submitted questions during a community forum on Thursday, touting his attributes and experience to help the Centennial School District progress. He also spoke out recently about what he brings to the table.

"We still have to vote on the guy. Negotiations aside, it’s not a done deal, and we have a chance to re-engage some other finalists or even reopen the search. We had 32 candidates, and there were other qualified and experienced choices who I liked quite a bit," Sadowski said.

Lucabaugh's selection by the Bucks County Intermediate Unit — which conducted the superintendent search — has been blasted by a 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.

Concerned Citizens of the Centennial School District "strongly oppose" the hiring of Lucabaugh to replace Bedden, who is retiring once his five-year contract expires at the end of June.

The group has cited "his troubling and costly record" of irresponsibility, discrimination, censorship, and litigation during his tenure leading the Central Bucks School District.

The Central Bucks School Board reached a more than $700,000 severance agreement with Lucabaugh that was approved by the outgoing school board in November 2023.

Concerned Citizens of Centennial School District urges the school board to reject Lucabaugh’s candidacy and to recommit to a transparent search for a superintendent who embodies educational excellence, fiscal responsibility, and equity.

Sadowski said the community "has clearly picked up" on a lack of transparency and their lack of real involvement in this hiring process.

"You can’t have existed in the world as someone with an interest in what happens in education (specifically in our local schools) and not heard about what went down in Central Bucks. We don’t have to sign on to the baggage and controversy that inevitably come with this selection," Sadowski said. "These are our kids. My kids, I have two still in our school district, and plenty of friends who also do not understand the mental gymnastics necessary for my board colleagues to ignore the candidate’s very public past. These were national scandals."

During his interviews for the hiring process, Lucabaugh said he will ensure that Centennial schools are places of safety, support, and growth, and that children will leave the district "ready to make a difference in a world that needs them."

Sadowski disagrees, saying his appointment will hurt students.

"I can only assume anyone voting for him wants exactly those kinds of divisive ideas in our schools — censorship, thought control, teaching interference, book bans, flag bans, and so on," he said. That doesn’t promote belonging for all, and it doesn’t lead to better educational outcomes or a safer school environment for all students."

"You can’t court controversy and not expect controversy to arise. This was a predictable thing, unless they have their heads in the sand or simply do not care what the community we’re supposed to represent thinks. And our district residents have been very clear," Sadowski said. "That undermines trust in our school leadership and starts us off on this next chapter for Centennial in a very tense and hurt place."

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