Central Bucks School District. Photo by James Short.
At a recent Central Bucks School District meeting, a new school board director was appointed, and Heather Reynolds was named vice president.
Daniel Kimicata was selected to replace Dr. Mariam Mahmud, who had resigned following her relocation out of District V. Central Bucks mandates that school board directors reside within their respective districts, prompting the need for Kimicata's appointment.
Jim Pepper, the sole Republican on the board, opposed Kimicata's appointment. Pepper had proposed Elana Abrams-Sudai as an alternative candidate, but was unsuccessful in his motion.
Kimicata, an architect with Wolstenhome Associates based in Doylestown, has three children, two of whom are in Central Bucks elementary schools. He and his family moved to the district from Brooklyn three years ago.
During his interview, Kimicata emphasized how his architectural expertise could benefit the district, particularly as it undergoes a grade realignment to accommodate ninth graders in high school and prepare for a full-day kindergarten program starting in 2026.
Kimicata raised concerns about the adequacy of current classroom spaces, noting that some elementary schools use high partitions to create classrooms, which lack windows and can misrepresent the available space. He argued that more accurate space planning is needed for the district's upcoming realignment and renovation projects.
The district is planning extensive renovations to address various facility issues, including outdated buildings and lack of air conditioning, according to Jess Rohan of the Bucks County Courier Times.
Board President Karen Smith highlighted these issues during budget discussions, which included funds allocated for necessary upgrades. Kimicata's expertise is expected to be valuable in these renovation efforts.
However, Kimicata's appointment was met with some criticism due to past social media posts. In May 2020, he made a controversial remark about people not wearing masks during the COVID pandemic, and in 2022, he posted a comment that appeared to link former Senate candidate Dr. Mehmet Oz and his supporters with incest. These posts attracted negative attention from some community members.
Two other candidates, Abrams-Sudai and Benjamin Goldthorp, were also considered for the board position.
Abrams-Sudai, a Navy veteran with children in the district, emphasized her commitment to instilling patriotism and her community involvement.
Goldthorp, a local real estate firm owner with experience in building industries, highlighted his expertise and focus on building relationships and teamwork.
Reynolds, newly appointed as vice president, pledged to prioritize transparency and student well-being in her new role.
Some members of the public questioned the absence of board director Rick Haring for the second consecutive time, raising concerns about potential violations of state law regarding board member attendance.
Smith confirmed Haring's absences were due to business travel, and she assured that his schedule would improve.
Haring's wife, Rebecca Cartee-Haring, is involved in ongoing legal action against the district over pay discrimination, adding a layer of complexity to Haring's situation.
