Central Bucks Responds To Latest Teacher Misconduct Report

DOYLESTOWN, PA — In a letter sent to the community on Monday, the superintendent of the Central Bucks School District responded to recent incidents of teacher misconduct in the district, calling them "disheartening and unacceptable."

In October 2021, longtime choir teacher Joseph Ohrt was indicted on charges of endangering minors and was recently sentenced for those crimes. Recently, another teacher, Michael London, was similarly charged with corruption of a minor.

In his letter, Dr. Abe Lucabaugh said both incidents "leave a stain that is difficult to remove. The aftermath is real, and acknowledging the reality of these situations is painful, yet important," he writes.

"As educators, we have a duty to protect, support, and advocate for every student in every capacity," said Lucabaugh. "When something of this nature occurs, it understandably calls into question the intentions and actions of everyone, regardless of how well-intentioned they may be. That hurts. It hurts when trust is eroded, and it hurts when the actions of the few construe the perception of the whole."

As a district, Lucabaugh said Central Bucks takes these matters seriously.

"As an example, when information about this most recent incident was brought to light, central office and building administration met with Michael London and placed him on suspension with pay pending the results of an investigation by the Bucks County District Attorney’s Office. The Bucks County DA’s Office conducted its investigation of the complaint and did not find any evidence of criminality; however, in an abundance of caution, Mr. London was kept on suspension while I authorized an internal investigation to ensure that nothing was overlooked, or inadvertently missed."

The result of that internal investigation yielded additional information that, upon resubmission to the district attorney’s office, led to the charges against Michael London.

"Fortunately, these actions served to identify and remove an individual who is unfit to be working with our students," said Lucabaugh.

"Moving forward, this incident is a stark reminder of the importance of vigilance, vetting, and training to ensure every student can learn and grow, safely. It is also an example of why I continue to maintain my stance on protecting our students from sexualization, in any form, and in any medium," writes the superintendent.

"As a district, we will continue to uphold the highest standards for professional conduct, and I am proud of the thousands of employees who come each day prepared to serve our students and the community with the purest of intentions and outcomes," writes Lucabaugh. "While we cannot always anticipate problems, we can take accountability for addressing them when they arise, and I promise we will always do this."