Former Centennial School Board President Takes Over

WARMINSTER TOWNSHIP, PA — Former Centennial School Board President Patti Crossan is back in charge as the Democrats have taken over following the controversial hiring of the district's schools superintendent.

At its reorganization meeting on Monday night, Crossan was named as school board president with School Director Tony Sadowski becoming vice president. School Director Charles Martin was named assistant secretary.

"I wanted bipartisan leadership with myself, Tony, and Charles," Crossan told Patch. "Charles is very much in tune with us."

Crossan said the three will work together to set the school board's agenda for each meeting.

The controversial 5-4 vote to hire Schools Superintendent Abram Lucabaugh, with the Republican party holding the majority, led to the election losses of School Board President Mary Alice Brancato and School Director Mark Gindhart.

They will be replaced by Democratic newcomers Karen Krieger and Krista DiPaolo, who were elected in the November general election. Both were sworn in to their new posts at Monday night's meeting.

Incumbent School Directors Jane Lynch and Flemming Godiksen also retained their seats in the election.

While Lynch is a Republican, she ran on the Democratic ticket, which will give the party a 5-4 majority on the school board following the reorganization meeting.

"It was a very happy night for our district as the new board became official," Sadowski said in a Facebook post. "I am excited to welcome Jane back, for Karen's financial expertise, and for the tireless dedication to our school community my friend Krista brings to the table. We have a lot of work ahead of us and difficult decisions to make about the best way to move CSD forward responsibly while maintaining the excellent academic growth we've seen over the past five years."

Brancato and Gindhart were honored for their service to the school community at a reception following the reorganization meeting on Monday night, but Crossan said neither attended.

Former Schools Superintendent Dana T. Bedden did attend the ceremony though.

He was replaced by Lucabaugh after Bedden's contract ended in June, following five years as schools superintendent.

Concerned Citizens of the Centennial School District "strongly opposed" the hiring of Lucabaugh. 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.

The reorganized school board will hold its first meeting on Tuesday.

"Our reorganization meeting was all positive," said Crossan, who has served on the school board for six years. "Everyone just wanted to see the positive change. I believe we're about to start out in the right direction."

(School Director Tony Sadowski) Former Centennial Schools Superintendent Dana T. Bedden, left, attended a ceremony after Monday night's reorganization meeting.

(School Director Patti Crossan)