Centennial School Board Bickers Over High School Threats

WARMINSTER, PA —An intruder at William Tennent High School early last month had parents blasting officials for how they handled the threat at a heated Centennial School Board meeting on Tuesday night.

High school parents Stephen and Michelle LuBrant spoke during public comments at the end of the meeting to complain about receiving a "vague email" about a trespasser in the high school for four hours on Sept. 4.

Stephen LuBrant said that was the same day that a school shooting in Georgia took place, killing four people.

"No alert, no follow-up, and no plan were given to what we would do differently in the future for how to prevent this situation from occurring again," he said.

Two days later, on Sept. 6, LuBrant said his wife was driving their kids to school as she normally does when she noticed an increased police presence, believing it was from the intruder. She then arrived home and received an email about another threat at the school.

"We were left unsettled about the situation, but what is more disturbing is how the situation was mishandled," he said. "Let's be clear. The lack of transparency, communication, and overall care shown to the students and their families following such a serious threat is inexcusable. Our children and loved ones deserve better. As parents, we deserve more than vague statements and delayed responses."

LuBrant said that Schools Superintendant Dana Bedden has remained "disturbingly quiet."

Michelle LuBrant said Wednesday that two people turned themselves in on Sept. 10. Yet despite social threats that closed schools in other areas, Centennial schools remained open during the recent threat.

She said one of the participants was 18 and placed in the Bucks County Correctional Facility. She said the adult participant was charged with two, third-degree felonies including terroristic threats, and received a bail amount of $75,000.

"If this is not an issue or a threat, then why are the individuals being charged," she said.

LuBrant then told Bedden that "it was a failure of responsibility."

"We send our children to school with the expectation that they will be protected physically and emotionally," she said. But your response has shown a complete disregard for the trust we place in you every day. I demand answers. We need real accountability for you Dr. Bedden."

She asked that the school board not renew Bedden's contract in December due to his "poor judgment."

She provided a court document of the person who threatened the school. Then she discussed school shootings in the nation.

Bedden said the board received a full briefing on the incident and the school district's security supervisor Kevin Burns —a longtime police officer —was also aware of the situation. The superintendent said parents were notified of the threat and that there would be a police presence at the high school.

Bedden said he was on the phone with police at 5 a.m. that morning. He said the school sent out a notification to parents at 6:15 a.m. that there was a threat that wasn't verified but that the district takes measures "very seriously" as a precautionary measure.

He said that school districts across the country have received threats online, and are often unsubstantiated.

Bedden also said that the district doesn't discuss threats in public so it doesn't undermine its security measures. He said the board was notified about the charges in executive session.

Lynch said parents have every right to address the school board about the safety of their children and "ask any question and give any opinion."

"As an individual board member, and I can probably speak for us all, we were alarmed beyond alarmed," Lynch said. "Security is our top priority. I cannot sit here and let you go out of here without thinking we are extremely, extremely concerned about this incident. We are thinking and working on ways we can improve the situation and have safety factored in for all our students without concern for cost. I don't care how much it costs. Our students are a top priority."

Lynch said the school board is looking at many different avenues.

School Board President Mary Alice Brancato said parents "should have been given something" even if the district could not reveal details of the incident publicly.

"We have done more in security since I've been here than ever in this district," Bedden said.

School board members then bickered with the LuBrants after their three minutes of time addressing the board was up.

Brancato tried to bring the proceedings under control.

"You adults are acting like knuckleheads, stop!" she said.