Central Bucks families with children in special education or receiving counseling, behavioral, or health services will have two administrators overseeing those programs instead of one.
The school board on Sept. 24 approved Meghan Dennis as director of specialized educational services and Cassandra Oshinsky as director of student services, according to district announcements. The two positions replace what had been a single director role.
The restructuring followed an independent evaluation completed in spring 2026 by the University of Minnesota's Center for Applied Research and Educational Improvement (CAREI). That review found opportunities to improve coordination and clarify responsibilities within the Student Services Department, the district said in its announcement.
Superintendent Joanna Wexler told administrators in August that the restructuring "reflects a recommendation from the external Student Services review completed last year," Patch reported.
Dennis, who holds a doctorate in educational leadership from Drexel University, joins Central Bucks from the School District of Springfield Township in Montgomery County, where she served as director of student services since 2023. Before that, she spent 18 years at Downingtown Area School District, including four years as director of pupil services. Her new role covers special education and gifted support programs.
Dennis said in a district statement that she is "grateful for the opportunity to contribute to the success of our students" as a long-time community member.
Oshinsky is an internal hire. She has served as CBSD's supervisor of Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS), federal programs, data, and assessment since August 2024, according to the district's announcement. Before joining Central Bucks, she was coordinator of student services for MTSS at Centennial School District and spent four years as principal of Excel Academy South. Her new role covers counseling, mental health supports, attendance, school nursing, Section 504 services, and Title IX coordination for student-on-student matters.
Both administrators are expected to start in their new roles by mid-to-late October.
The hires come as the district navigates a tight budget. Wexler told a community forum on Oct. 5 that Central Bucks faces a $14 million deficit and warned the district would be "out of money in two years," the Bucks County Herald reported. She also said the district would evaluate whether to replace every departing employee.
Wexler, the district's fifth superintendent since 2012, held community forums at CB West on Oct. 5 and Holicong on Oct. 12. A third forum is scheduled for Oct. 26 at Jamison.
