The Central Bucks School Board voted Wednesday night to terminate five district employees — including Superintendent Dr. Steven Yanni — following a third-party investigation that uncovered disturbing allegations of abuse against non-verbal autistic students in a special education classroom at Jamison Elementary School in one of the most serious special education scandals in the district’s history.
The dismissals mark the most consequential action taken to date in the wake of a months-long crisis that began with whistleblower complaints and culminated in a scathing report by Disability Rights Pennsylvania (DRP).
The nonprofit’s investigation revealed alleged mistreatment of students inside an autism support classroom between September and December 2024, including physical punishment, restricted water intake, and at least one instance of a child being found naked.
Wednesday's vote came during a school board meeting at Central Bucks West High School, where School Board President Susan Gibson addressed a crowd of concerned community members.
“Make no mistake, the district let you down,” Gibson said. “Please know that we will do everything in our power to ensure this never happens again—not to your children, not to any other Central Bucks student.”
Although the terminated staff members were officially referred to by employee ID numbers during the meeting, Action News confirmed that the list includes Yanni, Director of Pupil Services Alyssa Wright, and special education teacher Gabrielle McDaniel.
McDaniel, through her attorney, issued a statement denying the allegations:
“I am deeply disappointed by the District's decision to terminate my employment based on allegations that have been thoroughly investigated and found to be unsubstantiated by the District itself and several agencies... I am confident that the truth will prevail, and I look forward to the proper resolution of this matter.”
Board member James Pepper, whose non-verbal autistic son was among the students reportedly abused, abstained from Wednesday’s termination vote. He later told reporters he does not support Wright’s firing, according to Action News.
“It takes your breath away the way he was treated. He was treated like an animal,” Pepper said. “We need to protect our kids. Without a safe environment, we have nothing.”
Timeline of Escalating Fallout
The firings follow weeks of administrative shakeups after the DRP released its findings on April 24. The report painted a damning picture of both the conduct inside the Jamison classroom and the district’s response to it. According to the report, students were subjected to abusive conditions while administrators, including Yanni, allegedly misled police and failed to take appropriate action.
The report also criticized Yanni’s communication with law enforcement and parents, describing his handling of the situation as “a self-fulfilling circle.” According to the findings, “Dr. Yanni provided limited information in the ChildLine report and to the police; Dr. Yanni told the police that the District’s investigation found no abuse; the police relied on that conclusion in closing the file; and [Director of Human Resources Rob] Freiling disowned any responsibility for the District to investigate abuse as it was the police’s role.”
The Bucks County District Attorney’s Office has said it does not consider the case a criminal matter, and no charges have been filed.
Yanni, who was hired in May 2024 under a five-year contract with an annual salary of $275,000, was the first administrator placed on administrative leave, effective April 25. He was replaced by Assistant Superintendent Dr. Charles Malone, who now serves as substitute superintendent.
In the following days, a series of other high-ranking officials were placed on paid leave, including Wright, Supervisor of Special Education Katie Veisz, Director of Human Resources Robert Freiling, and HR Manager Christine Trawinski. The district also announced that external consultants would be brought in to stabilize and assess Special Education program management while the internal investigation continued.
Looking Ahead
In the face of growing outrage, the district has pledged to continue providing uninterrupted services and support for special education students. In a recent communication to families, Malone, Gibson, and School Board Vice President Heather Reynolds assured the community that oversight responsibilities have been redistributed internally, and temporary staff reassignments are underway to maintain services.
“We understand these changes may cause concern in our district community,” the district’s email stated. “Our commitment remains firmly focused on maintaining uninterrupted instruction and district operations.”
The school board has yet to release the results of its own third-party investigation, which is expected to be made public in the coming weeks.
