• Outgoing Superintendent Abram Lucabaugh received a controversial $700,000 severance package, raising questions about legality and fiscal responsibility.
• Lucabaugh’s support for the anti-LGBTQ+ group Moms for Liberty’s policies intensified the controversy, amid the group’s broader electoral defeats.
• The district’s recent shift to a Democratic-majority board reflects a national trend towards more inclusive and LGBTQ+ friendly educational policies.

The severance package of over $700,000 for the outgoing Central Bucks School District Superintendent Abram Lucabaugh has stirred significant controversy, highlighting the complex interplay of governance, educational policy, and community values in a politically shifting landscape.

Under the previous Republican-controlled board, the Central Bucks School District adopted conservative policies, including book bans, barring Pride flags, and preventing transgender athletes from participating in sports aligned with their gender identities. These decisions have been part of broader contentious actions by the board, including redistricting decisions that could impact the district’s power balance​​. (The Philadelphia Inquirer)

The decision to award Lucabaugh this substantial severance package, which included a year’s salary and over $200,000 for unused sick time, was met with strong opposition. Community members criticized the package as a misappropriation of funds, emphasizing the needs of students and teachers over administrative payouts​​. The legality of the package was also questioned, as Pennsylvania school code limits severance payouts to superintendents to one year’s salary and benefits if the superintendent leaves more than two years before the end of their contract​​. (The Advocate, The Philadelphia Inquirer)

The situation was further complicated by Lucabaugh’s support of policies endorsed by the far-right group Moms for Liberty, known for its anti-LGBTQ+ educational stance. The group faced significant defeats in recent school board elections across the country, including in Pennsylvania, with the Central Bucks School District’s election results seen as a direct rebuke of the conservative, anti-LGBTQ+ agenda supported by Lucabaugh and Moms for Liberty​​. (The Advocate)

This controversy reflects the broader national shift towards favoring candidates and policies that promote inclusivity and LGBTQ+ rights. As the new Democratic-majority board prepares to take control, there is hope for a change in direction towards policies reflecting diversity and inclusivity​​​​. (The Advocate)

The Central Bucks School District, serving about 17,000 students in 23 schools, has been roiled by infighting and has spent $1.5 million on legal and public relations fees amid competing lawsuits, discrimination complaints, and investigations in the past two years​​. This financial context adds to the scrutiny of the severance package decision, highlighting concerns over fiscal responsibility and prioritization of educational needs. (POLITICO)