Central Bucks superintendent defends himself at termination hearing over allegations of child abuse in Jamison.

Central Bucks Superintendent Steven Yanni appeared before a termination hearing on Wednesday, striving to address allegations related to the handling of child abuse claims at Jamison Elementary School. The proceedings, which have drawn considerable public interest, mark a significant milestone in the board’s process of determining Yanni’s future in the district.

Yanni asserted that his actions were predicated upon information provided by fellow district administrators and legal counsel, reinforcing the notion that leadership relies on trust and collaboration. He emphasized the necessity for superintendents to depend on the expertise and knowledge of their team, especially in complex situations involving sensitive matters like child welfare.

The Central Bucks school board had earlier approved a statement of charges against Yanni in June. The current stage of the termination process entails a public hearing, with the board scheduled to vote on his employment status in September.

During an extensive three-hour testimony before the school board, Yanni relayed his perspective regarding the measures he took in response to allegations that teacher Gabrielle McDaniel and educational assistant Rachel Aussprung engaged in abusive behavior towards students within an autistic support classroom at Jamison. His attorney, David Truelove, contended that Yanni had neither lied nor misrepresented any information to parents, the school board, or law enforcement, asserting that the failure to act promptly lay with other administrators.

Furthermore, Truelove highlighted the damaging impact these allegations have had on Yanni’s reputation, suggesting he has become a scapegoat in a broader systemic issue. Concurrently, the school board is also seeking to terminate Jamison principal Dave Heineman alongside three additional employees. On Tuesday, district solicitor Peter Amuso presented his case against Yanni and Heineman, calling witnesses to testify about the inadequate responses to the abuse reports from the previous fall.

Yanni expressed the emotional toll of being placed on leave, stating that his responses to reports of abuse were based on guidance from trusted district colleagues, including experts in special education. He noted that the information he received did not indicate abusive behavior, which delayed notifying ChildLine, Pennsylvania’s reporting system for child abuse or neglect.

On November 20, following a meeting with Robert Freiling, the district’s human resources director, Yanni received crucial additional information from Alyssa Kline, a personal care assistant who initially reported the abuse. Subsequently, Yanni reported the allegations to ChildLine that evening, with a more comprehensive report submitted in January.

Truelove consistently reinforced Yanni’s commendable character and his previously strong reputation during tenures at Upper Dublin and Lower Merion, indicating that he was brought to Central Bucks to improve a troubled district environment.

As this story develops, the community awaits the outcome of the school board’s deliberations regarding Yanni’s employment status.