Central Bucks Hears From Incoming Superintendent Of Schools

DOYLESTOWN, PA — The Central Bucks School Board officially introduced its new superintendent Dr. Steven Yanni to the community during a public forum Monday evening at Central Bucks High School West.

During a 40 minute question and answer session with Dr. Mark Hoffman, the executive director of the Bucks County Intermediate Unit, Yanni spoke about his background and experiences, the knowledge and skill set that he will bring to the job, his vision for the district, and "how we will all grow and learn together.

“I’m someone who is driven by impact and someone who wants to make a difference in the lives of kids every day," he said. "And in my time in Central Bucks you will see I just don’t say that, I mean that.

"And over the course of serving at multiple levels and in multiple positions in multiple districts, I have dedicated my career to making sure that we create schools and classrooms that respond dynamically to the needs of kids," he said.

Yanni comes to the Central Bucks, the third largest public school system in the Commonwealth, from Lower Merion where he served as superintendent for the past year. Prior to that he worked as superintendent in the Upper Dublin School District and in the New Hope-Solebury School District.

Yanni began his career as an elementary and middle school teacher before becoming a building administrator, a district curriculum director and then superintendent.

During the question and answer session with Hoffman, Yanni fielded numerous questions ranging from the development of the district budget to student inclusion, the district's upcoming building realignment, special education and district communication.

Dr. Mark Hoffman, left, executive director of the Bucks County Intermediate Unit, interviews the incoming superintendent of the Central Bucks School District, Dr. Steven Yanni. (Photo by Jeff Werner)

Hoffman opened up the questioning by asking Yanni about his short, one year tenure at Lower Merion noting that several residents who had submitted questions had wondered why he was leaving Lower Merion after just one year.

"Central Bucks is home for me," said Yanni. "I've been a community member for a little over eight years. I've watched what has transpired in the school district and the community - the good times, the struggling times," he said. "I believe at my core that I'm a unifier and a uniter - that I help people look at what is really important. And when we think about what's important in Central Bucks, it's making sure that kids are successful. If we can help everyone focus on that commonality, we're going to be successful as a school district."

Yanni added, "I spent a year in Lower Merion. There's nothing wrong in Lower Merion," he said. "I'm sad to leave Lower Merion. I also believe that when you're a superintendent you leave a place in better condition than you found it ... I believe I have set Lower Merion up for the next superintendent to take it forward," he said.

Yanni added, "I wasn't even sure my application would even get attention (in Central Bucks) because I had just made the move to Lower Merion. But what I committed to through the interview process was that if I was fortunate to become the superintendent I would making a long term commitment."

Regarding the budgetary process, Yanni said he believes in zero-based budgeting. "In Bucks County and in Central Bucks we're blessed with great resources. But we have to realize those resources are not endless and we must be good stewards of the public's money. We must be able to show the impact of the tax dollars that we take."

He continued, "One of the things we will be doing for the next year to 18 months is refining our budgetary practices, taking a look at what our real needs are, looking at ways we can do things more efficiently and more effectively. And we have to be really transparent with the community on how we're using their tax dollars and when we need tax increases explaining to folks how we're going to dedicate those funds for kids in the community."

Hoffman asked the incoming superintendent what communication would look like under the Yanni administration.

"To over communicate is to communicate just enough," said Yanni. "People need to see and hear from the superintendent so there will be some form of communication that we will develop and deploy. In terms of district communication, we have to communicate widely, deeply and people need to hear from us in multiple ways. We have to leverage any tool we have available. When there's an absence of information about anything it allows narratives to grow. And when false narratives grow, that brings mistrust. What you have from me is my commitment that you'll be hearing from the district multiple times."

FIelding several other questions, Yanni said he will be a "visible" superintendent, not just in the school district, but in the community. He'll also be accessible. "If you email me, I'm going to respond," he said.

Hoffman said several in the community wanted to know how the new superintendent would work to ensure that students feel safe and included in the district.

"One of the things we can all agree upon is that we want kids to be successful," said Yanni. "As adults, we have to check our biases and politics at the door and we have to focus on doing what is best for kids. It is a travesty when kids come to school and feel like they don't belong. I was kid who was bullied and I was a kid who felt they didn't belong. When that is playing on your mind you can't be fully available to learn. We have to do everything we can to help every kid to understand that they belong and feel that sense of belonging."

Yanni also answered questions on the upcoming district building realignment, cell phones in the classroom, healthy school start times and special education. You can watch the entire interview posted on the school district's website.

Yanni concluded his remarks by saying, "There are definitely times we are going to agree on things and there are definitely going to be times when we disagree. But at the end of the day I can't put my head down at night if I don't think I'm doing good things for the kids," said Yanni.

"No matter what's going on in the district, whatever initiative we're working on, the good times, the times of strife and stress, please note that from the bottom of my heart I'm always going to keep kids at the core of the work that I do," said Yanni. "When I make decisions as superintendent you have my unending commitment that kids will always be at the heart of those decision."

The Central Bucks School Board is scheduled to met Tuesday evening, May 14 to formally approve a five year contract with Yanni who is scheduled to join the district in August.

Under the terms of his agreement with the district, Yanni will receive an annual salary of $275,000. Beginning in July 2025 and each July there after during his contract he will receive increases ranging from zero to three-and-a-half percent based upon his work performance.