Former New Hope-Solebury Superintendent Selected To Lead Central Bucks School District

Dr. Steven Yanni, the former superintendent of New Hope-Solebury School District, is set to lead the Central Bucks School District, the third-largest district in Pennsylvania.

According to a statement from the Bucks County Intermediate Unit, which aided the district in the superintendent search, Yanni has been picked as the preferred candidate.

The Central Bucks School Board is scheduled to finalize an employment agreement with Yanni during their meeting on Tuesday, May 14.

Yanni is currently serving as the superintendent of Lower Merion School District in Montgomery County. His previous roles include leading the Upper Dublin School District and the New Hope-Solebury School District from 2015 to 2018.

Yanni succeeded Raymond Boccuti as superintendent at New Hope-Solebury in 2015 and was later replaced by Dr. Charles Lentz after he left in 2018.

The Bucks County Intermediate Unit highlighted Yanni’s “deep commitment to cultivating inclusive learning environments and to the power of collaboration among parents, guardians, educators, and community stakeholders.”

In response to his new appointment, Yanni stated: “I consider it both an honor and privilege to be chosen to serve as the next Superintendent of the Central Bucks School District. In this role, I will remain unwavering in my commitment to equipping every student with the essential academic and problem-solving skills needed for personal growth, responsible citizenship, and lifelong learning in a district that focuses on academic excellence, empowerment, and innovative educational practices.”

The top administrative role at Central Bucks has been temporarily held by veteran administrator Jim Scanlon, a former teacher at New Hope-Solebury School District.

The vacancy came after the abrupt departure of former superintendent Abram Lucabaugh last November. Lucabaugh left ahead of a change in the school board majority and gained public attention for a $712,000 separation agreement, which came just months after he received a 40 percent pay increase, according to the Bucks County Herald and CBS 3.