More than 841 members of the Central Bucks community responded to a districtwide survey designed to help shape the profile of the next superintendent, with results shared publicly Thursday night showing strong interest in academic leadership, school safety, communication and clear district direction.
The survey was open from Jan. 5 through Jan. 16 and included parents, staff, students, taxpayers and other community stakeholders, according to district materials.
Who responded
Parents made up the largest share of respondents at 53%, followed by Central Bucks employees at 22% and community members or taxpayers at 17%.
Students accounted for 5% of responses, with small percentages from local business owners and guardians or host families.
The mix gave the school board a broad cross-section of perspectives as it develops criteria for the district’s next top administrator.
Top priorities for the new superintendent
When asked to rank first-year focus areas, academics and instruction emerged as the clear top priority, receiving the highest number of “most important” rankings. School safety was another standout, with one of the strongest concentrations of top-tier rankings among all categories.
Other highly ranked priorities included:
Mid-level priorities included social and emotional learning, transportation, and district image and reputation. Areas such as athletics, arts, real estate tax rates, and state and federal advocacy were more frequently ranked in the middle tiers rather than at the very top
Leadership traits the community wants
Respondents also weighed in on the qualities they want in the next superintendent. The strongest support clustered around leadership that student- and safety-centered, equipped with a clear educational vision, able to work with the school board to set a clear direction, and knowledgeable in curriculum, instruction, and assessment.
There was also significant support for a leader who can build consensus through collaboration and who is community-centered, though these ranked slightly below the top tier.
Traits that received more mixed rankings included being traditional and risk-averse versus innovative and risk-tolerant, suggesting the community is divided on how aggressively the next superintendent should push change. Financial expertise and communications skills were viewed as important but generally fell into the middle importance range rather than the very top.
Board locks in secondary leadership
As the superintendent search continues, the board took steps to maintain stability in district leadership. In two unanimous votes, directors approved the appointment of Dr. Charles Malone as assistant superintendent for secondary education for a five-year term from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2031, and approved his employment contract for that role.
Board President Heather Reynolds publicly thanked Malone during the meeting.
“I will say thank you so much for the work you do for us, with us, for the district, for students, keeping us going, moving forward, it’s been really challenging, we know, and we’re grateful for the work you have done and grateful that you are staying on to continue with us at the district,” Reynolds said.
