Centennial Replaces Safety And Security Supervisor

WARMINSTER, PA —The Centennial School District has a new safety and security supervisor.

Nearly four months after hiring John Ward, a former police chief, to oversee the district's security operations, the school board was introduced at its meeting Tuesday night to Kevin Burns, who is replacing Ward.

In giving a report on behalf of Schools Superintendent Dana Bedden, Assistant Superintendent Dennis Best introduced Burns, who was sitting in the audience.

Best said that Burns served in a similar capacity in the Neshaminy School District from 2019 to 2022. He's also a graduate of William Tennent High School.

Best said that Burns has served as a police officer since 1988, and in various roles as a patrolman, detective, investigator in vice and narcotics, D.A.R.E. officer, and sergeant.

He also holds various certificates in training, including two levels of comprehensive school threat assessment guidelines training two levels, Best said.

School Board President Jane Lynch had Burns come up to the board to shake everyone's hands. He was welcomed as a Tennent alumni.

Best said Burns will attend a meet-and-greet with the school board at a date to be determined in September.

School Board Vice President Patti Crossan told Patch Thursday that Ward had to resign due to an illness in the family over the summer.

"This was the first time we met him (Burns)," she said about the school board meeting.

The school board unanimously approved hiring someone to lead security in the school district in April.

The hiring is a new post for the district, which didn't have a school police officer, school resource officer, or school security guards at its schools at that time, Bedden said in April.

"Addressing school safety and security in a manner that is more proactive and not just reactive requires a dedicated and knowledgeable person," Bedden said. "We can’t treat safety and security as a decentralized model, giving pieces of the responsibility to others as just a secondary job responsibility. In order to do better and be better, we must have dedicated staff and resources."

The selection process included more than 100 applicants and two rounds of interviews of selected candidates. The final round of interviews included leadership representation from Warminster and Southampton Police Departments on the interview panel, Bedden said.

In Burns' role, he will:

• Serve as the Act 44 Safety and Security Coordinator, for the District
• Supervise school security personnel including: managing, training, compliance and staffing
• Manage 3rd party safety and security contracts
• Manage Fire and Security Planning (planning, drills, etc.)
• Coordinate training (staff, teachers & substitutes)
• Build relationships with local Police and First Responders
• Monitor along with School Administrators' Safe2Say and Gaggle activity
• Maintain up-to-date security equipment and plans across the District
• Oversee safety and security for school day and extracurricular activities.