[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6379403,"mediaKeyId","2136027-74a5aa3fef711922da993d457ccb764b","parentId",2136027,"title","Board approves routine consent agenda, accepts education foundation grants and dual‑enrollment agreement; HR vote recorded 8–1","audioSeconds",2167,"startMs",1893000,"endMs",4060000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2136027-74a5aa3fef711922da993d457ccb764b&start=1893&end=4060","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2136027-74a5aa3fef711922da993d457ccb764b/thumbnail_1893000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6379403/Pennsylvania/Board-approves-routine-consent-agenda-accepts-education-foundation-grants-and-dualenrollment-agreement-HR-vote-recorded-81","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6379403-192826bcfc94a72a495fe8b13ab93af6/orig.mp4?Expires=1770440211&Signature=alA1VCorCK-ErZ4P~5lutm7l-yKf1x9oFYTT-iJoc8pTXKDzB4mN0NPsGV0fw8WavzCEqkn0OmECG5APd3jYNuMVBJthjdX8JPf02TWFnhuw7RHUUm3mv8yKOIYRU2w6JNI9oELhJE6BVUzMrcbDfMGDgniBqXI05G8jk2piWNhRlq99B1BF6q-0XLVSoI35RrJVosKJImyWsD66z1lxt-WRcWdUzQkQDNV6sJO98QjqOfkk6MLBNz2hNYjIGTyNvkpcoy-vuc0SMyV4j4mr9vRSOyhfowgljK-otsY53v1uAqvfi6~rcBt8J9Z0A9RsVuO3IaDtp8CYbFweUiqICg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Central Bucks School District","date","2025-01-18T00:00:00Z","article","The Central Bucks School District Board of School Directors approved a package of consent and action items during its Jan. 16 general meeting, including finance and operations items, special‑education approvals, educational materials, human resources items, and two other action items: a dual‑enrollment agreement with Delaware Valley University and acceptance of grants from the Central Bucks Education Foundation.

Key outcomes at a glance

- Minutes: The board approved the minutes of the Dec. 2, 2024 organizational meeting and the Dec. 2, 2024 general meeting (motions carried; mover/second announced for procedural votes).

- Finance (agenda items 6B–6L): The board approved finance items moved forward from the finance and operations committee, including four school tax settlements and a tax collector remuneration resolution that the treasurer noted is required every four years. (Motion moved by Rick Herring and seconded by Dana Foley; vote recorded as approval.)

- Operations (7B–7I): The board approved operations items moved by the administration; motion carried.

- Special education (8B–8I), student services (9B–9D), education (10B–10F) and policy items (11B–11D): Each block was moved forward and approved by the board as listed on the agenda.

- Field trips (12B–12I): Approved.

- Human resources (13B–13H): The board approved human resources agenda items. The meeting recorded the motion as carried with eight in favor and one abstention.

- Other action items (14A–14B): The board approved a dual‑enrollment agreement with Delaware Valley University (the Department of Education requires districts to have dual‑enrollment agreements) and accepted funds from the Central Bucks Education Foundation (grant awards totaling over $40,000 were described in the superintendent’s report). Motions to approve both items were made and seconded; the board voted to approve.

- Grants and pilot programs noted in the superintendent’s report: Superintendent Dr. Steven Yanni told the board the district was accepting more than $40,000 in grants from the Central Bucks Education Foundation and expected to approve a contract with Empath Ed, a virtual‑reality training program, for about $15,000; combined amounts discussed totaled roughly $55,000 and were described as awards to support teacher and student projects and professional development. The board’s agenda included formal acceptance of the foundation funds (item 14B), which was approved.

Vote details and procedure notes

Most agenda blocks were approved as presented with standard “all‑in‑favor” voice votes announced at the meeting. The human resources item block recorded one abstention (the chair announced the final count as “Motion carries 8, with 8 in favor with 1 abstention”). Where recorded, motions and seconders were announced in the meeting (for example, the finance block was moved by Rick Herring and seconded by Dana Foley). The board did not set a tax rate or adopt a final budget at this meeting; the superintendent emphasized the January budget presentation was preliminary and “does not set a tax rate” and that work on the 2025–26 budget would continue through June.

What this does and does not do

These approvals are routine operational and programmatic matters intended to keep district operations running. The formal acceptance of foundation grants authorizes the district to receive and allocate the specified funds to teachers and projects. The dual‑enrollment agreement is a standard education partnership required by the state to permit students to take courses for both high‑school and college credit.

Ending

The meeting’s consent approvals moved multiple committee recommendations to final board action; the board did not take additional special votes on controversial items during the meeting. The superintendent and committee chairs noted that more detailed budget deliberations, policy reviews and community engagement (including upcoming town halls) will occur in the coming months.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","CBSD School Board Meeting January 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Central Bucks School District board on Jan. 16 approved routine finance, operations and education consent items, accepted foundation grants and approved a dual‑enrollment agreement; human resources approvals passed 8–1 with one abstention.","taxTitle","Central Bucks SD, School Districts, Pennsylvania","taxId",12923,"location","Pennsylvania","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6379412,"Parents and witnesses say nonverbal Jamison student was abused; district and police say investigations found no evidence",2174,3013000,5187000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2136027-74a5aa3fef711922da993d457ccb764b&start=3013&end=5187","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2136027-74a5aa3fef711922da993d457ccb764b/thumbnail_3013000.jpg","/articles/6379412/Pennsylvania/Parents-and-witnesses-say-nonverbal-Jamison-student-was-abused-district-and-police-say-investigations-found-no-evidence","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6379412-a3b1d05d5f7a302ce4bb06506fe012e9/orig.mp4?Expires=1770440211&Signature=kYht35SUiNX9-LNbj8kTPqzLNIfune4g8vnK-266fI8mJg1AoyxwVsvpsqzxK4Og6dcJcaeiZcpgLok-3g~NBDyRnEsFWDkBzrJyOxV922oQcI~Bgdj4Q4~QaIFxdRnkV4YzcSfSOUNCZaExk66BMn2Aw64gV~0A1K1UUPG1znMHp-VG3khBFAE5hEwnZTkCFTOcD4eKe9Beir2VdSe-UVZVeYZwJmMMxK23C1MAst8PNsg4UUC7FlkuzYng0NH~n0Eng9jnbF8gPhDUdNmyc3OB0QuAXu~THgrep5lNakzRvGyDL442jYyJQ09RIfvYmjyPBJi~FajFAheIIoDNnA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Parents, witnesses and a board member accused school staff of physically and emotionally mistreating a nonverbal student in a Jamison Elementary special-education classroom during public comment at the Central Bucks School District board meeting on Jan. 16.

The district said it opened an internal investigation and filed a ChildLine report; Warwick Township police also investigated and concluded their criminal inquiry with no findings of abuse. Parents and whistleblowers told the board the internal review and police outcome do not reflect multiple eyewitness accounts of incidents they say included forcing a child to walk barefoot on hot blacktop and wood chips, prolonged restraints, removal of a communication device and other degrading treatment.

Why it matters: The allegations involve a medically vulnerable, nonverbal student and touch on district reporting and response protocols for suspected abuse. Several speakers said the district’s handling harmed parents’ trust and asked the board to pursue further accountability or resignations; the district said it is cooperating with authorities and that safety remains a priority.

The parents’ account and whistleblower reports

At the meeting Deborah Cannon (public commenter) described allegations she said were raised by a whistleblower and summarized them in stark terms: “What if I told you a child in your district was subjected to treatment so burdensome it was criminal? What if I told you a child was forced to walk barefoot on hot asphalt and wood chips as punishment, left naked in his classroom, left naked on a bathroom floor, deprived of water, and mocked by adults charged with his care?” (Deborah Cannon, public comment.)

Multiple other speakers, including Vana Diermon and Jana Rotunno, recounted a timeline they said began with a whistleblower complaint submitted to Human Resources in mid-November and the district filing a ChildLine report on Nov. 20. They said the district’s internal investigation and an initial police review labeled the matter a personality conflict or “instructional concerns” and found no evidence of criminal abuse, but that later police follow-up corroborated eyewitness accounts and prompted requests to reopen the investigation.

Board member and parent Jim Pepper described the effect on his family during lengthy public remarks. “My son was treated like an animal...worse than an animal,” Pepper said. He told the board he and his wife were told by district officials that they had “no right whatsoever to know what happened to our son.” Pepper and other speakers urged the board to hold administration staff accountable; Pepper also called for the resignation of several district officials in his remarks.

District and police statements

Howard Schargel read a Jan. 5 email from Superintendent Dr. Steven Yanni to the board explaining the district’s actions: the district opened an internal investigation conducted by Human Resources and school administrators, filed a ChildLine report, and cooperated with the Warwick Township Police Department. The email said, in part, “there have been no findings of any abuse of any child in the district and that the safety of our students is and always will be our top priority.” (read publicly at the Jan. 16 meeting.)

A Warwick Township police report included at the meeting summarized law enforcement’s contact with district officials. The detective’s report states that after interviewing staff and reviewing the district’s investigation, the detective believed the district handled its internal inquiry appropriately and recommended closing the criminal investigation.

What the district said about its process

According to statements read at the meeting, the district’s internal review involved Human Resources director Rob Freeling (named in the police report), an HR manager and staff support from Nadine Garvin. Multiple commenters and parents criticized what they described as selective reporting to ChildLine and to parents — saying some allegations gathered by the whistleblower were not shared with ChildLine, parents, or publicly — and called that omission unacceptable.

Board response and next steps

Board members and district officials repeatedly told the meeting they could not discuss personnel details in public comment but said they were taking the complaints seriously. The district said it would continue cooperating with law enforcement and children-and-youth authorities.

Public speakers pressed for additional transparency and accountability; several urged the board to review reporting practices for alleged abuse and to ensure mandatory reporter responsibilities are enforced. The meeting did not produce a publicly recorded new formal action or vote on additional investigation steps; speakers said they expect follow-up from the board and administration.

Ending

The parents and several whistleblowers demanded further action and oversight; district leaders reiterated their position that prior investigatory steps were completed and that the police had closed their criminal inquiry without finding evidence of abuse. The board did not announce an immediate new, public fact-finding process at the meeting; several speakers said they would seek media coverage and continued legal or administrative review.

","Parents and witnesses told the Central Bucks School District board on Jan. 16 that an autistic, nonverbal student at Jamison Elementary was subjected to alleged physical and emotional mistreatment; the district and Warwick Township police say their investigations found no evidence of abuse.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6379408,"Residents cite depositions and Signal messages, call for resignations over alleged Sunshine Act violations",3553,1489000,5042000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2136027-74a5aa3fef711922da993d457ccb764b&start=1489&end=5042","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2136027-74a5aa3fef711922da993d457ccb764b/thumbnail_1489000.jpg","/articles/6379408/Pennsylvania/Residents-cite-depositions-and-Signal-messages-call-for-resignations-over-alleged-Sunshine-Act-violations","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6379408-4d4b5c0004d7a510f67687e49faae9f1/orig.mp4?Expires=1770440211&Signature=e3QvgpqFbNGhxASZrV2lHbv2KnP7NXU6hqKq6wxfnu0Q3kuJ-8t1aGlD7bNG5UY9dCSO4NEG65pL9D9kcCrfMm-9YDYQ3BsLoLVY8hIW-KhsRdyV0Ydx0fz0SZ4mx2Dqr2gNObxKinyfl~TjfSeY0KwhLl5Q2d-XS9FV2Hf8YFYUsPzbDKUtgtsSBnI3tttl8~XhZnurDhvgy7v4XdVeR66SuCpX0Op6taGEYm8y6PbCz5cJNSbLUKBjt6hTiujVh4N6HHsQc6R-c5M3xylFndhg0FneRgdvG1vXH7g-7~BhzMoqP-AYFQDsyTJhFs1CYnM4fHVZfXoFmm5fDAbbXw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Residents and several public commenters told the Central Bucks School District board on Jan. 16 that depositions and records produced in litigation show board members discussed district business on the Signal messaging app, deleted messages and thereby avoided public disclosure obligations.

Why it matters: Using private messaging for official business can violate Pennsylvania’s open‑meetings requirements (commonly referred to as the Sunshine Act or public meeting law) and expose the district and individual board members to legal liability. Residents said the discovery evidence in an ongoing lawsuit contradicts earlier public statements about the existence of Signal chats.

What speakers said

Allison Zimmer, a Buckingham resident, cited a Delaware Valley Journal article and depositions posted to a district website and summarized discovery that she said shows then‑board president Karen Smith and several Democratic board members used Signal to discuss board business and later deleted messages. She told the board: “What the Democrats are is a liability. For these reasons, I'm asking that Karen Smith, Heather Reynolds, Dana Foley, Rick Herring, Susan Gibson and Dr. Yanni resign.” (Allison Zimmer, public comment.)

Shannon Harris and other commenters described receiving records through Right‑to‑Know (RTK) requests and said the district’s public disclosures were incomplete, pointing to affidavits stating no Signal messages existed and to subsequent material indicating otherwise. Public commenters alleged that messages were set to auto‑delete and that discovery revealed deleted Signal content.

District and board references

Commenters said that during depositions some board members and staff acknowledged Signal use and that one board member later retrieved messages from her phone. The public record presented by speakers included a mix of newspaper reporting, deposition excerpts and RTK production; district officials at the meeting declined to expand on personnel matters in public comment.

Calls for action and legal context

Speakers framed the matter as both a transparency issue and a possible legal violation of the state public meeting law. Several asked the board to resign or to refer the matter to counsel for formal review. Board members did not take a public vote on the matter during the Jan. 16 meeting.

Ending

The allegations about Signal and depositions dominated a portion of the meeting’s public comment. Commenters said they would continue to press through RTK, the media and litigation; the board did not announce any immediate personnel actions in response at the meeting.

","Multiple residents at the Central Bucks School District meeting on Jan. 16 said depositions and Right‑to‑Know records show board members used the Signal app to conduct district business outside public meetings, raising Sunshine Act concerns and prompting calls for several officials to resign.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Board approves routine consent agenda, accepts education foundation grants and dual‑enrollment agreement; HR vote recorded 8–1

Parents and witnesses say nonverbal Jamison student was abused; district and police say investigations found no evidence

Residents cite depositions and Signal messages, call for resignations over alleged Sunshine Act violations