Hundreds of residents packed a Centennial School District board meeting on Tuesday, May 13, pressing the board over its handling of the superintendent search and the board’s apparent advancement of a finalist, Dr. Abram Lukabaugh. Board president Mercado told the room the board will vote on a candidate at its regular meeting on May 27, 2025.

The dispute centered on two issues: whether the board followed an open, equitable search process and whether the finalist’s record in the Central Bucks School District makes him a suitable hire for Centennial. The meeting opened with a short presentation of student achievements and then unfolded into hours of public comment from parents, teachers and community groups both opposing and supporting the finalist.

“Anyone with no prior experience as a superintendent would not be interviewed,” President Mercado said, describing the search process and saying finalists were scored and coordinated through the Bucks County Intermediate Unit. “The candidate will be voted on by the elected school board members at the regular meeting of the board of school directors on 05/27/2025.”

Board member Nicole Lynch, during discussion of the search process and an executive-session meeting, asked directly, “Did we violate the Sunshine Act?” Lynch and other board members also described constraints on questions during the finalists’ IU-facilitated meet-and-greet and disagreement among directors about whether community stakeholders had adequate input.

Speakers opposing the finalist repeatedly cited his record at Central Bucks: book restriction policies, the suspension of a teacher who aided a transgender student, large expenditures on legal fees and public relations, and a taxpayer-funded severance. Nancy Pontius, spokesperson for a group identifying itself as Concerned Citizens of Centennial School District, summarized the crowd’s concerns: “Doctor Lukubaugh’s record shows a pattern of discrimination, censorship, retaliation and costly decision making.”

Other residents described personal and classroom impacts they attribute to the finalist’s leadership at Central Bucks. Catherine Dangler, an educator, said, “Lukabaugh does not value an educator’s voice.” Several speakers cited specific financial figures reported from Central Bucks, including a $700,000 severance and legal costs they said exceeded $1 million; speakers asked how Centennial would protect taxpayer funds.

Teachers, alumni and parents recounted classroom-level concerns. Melissa Ballo, a former student and longtime resident, described a teacher who served as a refuge for students and warned of the potential loss of supportive staff: “I could not put a price tag on what it was to know Senor Corrigan.” Samantha Gamble, a former Central Bucks teacher now in Centennial, listed the controversies she associated with the candidate: “He oversaw policies that resulted in more than a million dollars in legal fees.”

Not all remarks were opposed. Several speakers who said they had worked under the candidate or supported the board’s decision described him as fiscally disciplined and student-focused. A small number of commenters urged the board to proceed, calling for staff accountability and fiscal prudence.

Board debate also produced two procedural votes viewers had pressed for: the board voted to combine agenda and non‑agenda public comment so all community speakers could be heard together and then approved a second motion extending the total public‑comment allowance so everyone present could speak while maintaining three minutes per speaker. That pair of changes passed on roll call, six to two.

In addition to the superintendent discussion, the board handled routine business: it approved two student travel requests — FBLA nationals (district cost not to exceed $14,814) and the William Tennant High School senior class trip (district cost $130 per day for substitutes; total district cost not specified) — and approved multiple consent agenda items, special-education agreements and policies. Several of those motions passed unanimously or by recorded roll calls.

The board did not take a final superintendent vote at the May 13 meeting. President Mercado reiterated the timeline and procedures the board will follow, and she said community members could submit questions through the district website and attend an informal meet-and-greet the IU arranged before the board’s public vote. The board’s next regular meeting and the scheduled vote are May 27, 2025.

Documentation of financial figures, policy citations and litigation history cited by speakers was requested repeatedly by commenters; the board and the Bucks County Intermediate Unit fielded questions about confidentiality and the limits on questions during finalist interviews. Several speakers said they plan to continue attending board meetings and to vote in upcoming school-board elections.

Votes at a glance

- Motion to combine agenda and non‑agenda public comments and move them to the start of the meeting: approved by roll-call vote, 6 yes — 2 no. (Roll-call record in transcript.)

- Motion to allow all community members present to speak (maintaining a three‑minute limit per speaker): approved by roll-call vote, 6 yes — 2 no.

- 6.6(a) FBLA national conference trip, June 27–July 3, 2025, Anaheim, Calif.; district cost not to exceed $14,814: approved, 8–0.

- 6.6(b) William Tennant senior class trip to Walt Disney World (spring 2026); district cost: $130 per day for substitutes; total district cost not specified: approved, 8–0.

- Consent agenda (6.1–6.9, including multiple contracts, tuition agreements and software renewals): approved, 8–0.

- New-business item 7.1 (proposed special-education plan for 2025–28): approved, unanimous.

- 7.2 (PSBA delegate appointments): tabled for a future meeting.

- 7.3 (home and school bylaws): approved with adjusted effective cycle dates, unanimous.

- 7.4 (IDEA funds agreement with Bucks County Intermediate Unit): approved, unanimous.

What’s next

The board plans a formal vote on the superintendent candidate at its regular meeting on May 27, 2025. Community members in the meeting and multiple speakers said they intend to continue attending board meetings, submit written questions, and monitor the district’s financial exposure and policy decisions.

(Reporting note: quotes and attributions derive from the May 13, 2025 Centennial School District board meeting transcript.)