On September 5, 2025, the Pennsbury School District hosted a state-mandated Act 34 hearing at Fallsington Elementary School to present and solicit public feedback on its proposed $269.5 million high school construction project. The Act 34 hearing, required under Pennsylvania law for major school building initiatives, drew over 100 residents despite competing with the Philadelphia Eagles’ home opener—a testament to the intensity of local interest and concern. For those that did attend, many were unimpressed by the limited details put forward by Pennsbury and its vendors that last approximately 15 minutes

The Proposal: Scope and Cost

The district’s plan calls for a 497,000-square-foot facility to replace the aging Pennsbury East and West campuses, which date back to the 1960s. The new building would be constructed on the south side of the current campus along Hood Boulevard, with the existing structures slated for demolition upon completion.

The total estimated cost detailed in the Act 34 Hearing booklet includes $212.4 million for construction, $33 million for site development, and $1.3 million in architectural fees. Financial adviser Zach Williard of PFM noted that Pennsbury’s strong Aa3 credit rating would allow it to issue bonds without insurance, potentially minimizing the tax impact. However, the projected millage increase of 14.6 mills left many residents uneasy.

Supporters: Safety, Modernization, and Educational Value

Proponents of the project—largely parents and younger families—argued that Pennsbury students deserve a modern, consolidated facility that meets current safety and accessibility standards. Superintendent Dr. Thomas Smith emphasized that the split-campus model forces students to walk between buildings, compromising instructional time and security. He also cited the lack of natural light and ADA compliance in the existing structures.

School board candidate Jim Boice, an employee of the New Jersey Education Association (NJEA) teacher’s union, offered a glowing endorsement of the project, declaring, “The students are the heart of our district… We want our kids going to top-quality buildings, so they feel good about themselves.” But for many attendees, Boice’s remarks landed with the subtlety of a campaign flyer. His enthusiasm seemed less rooted in fiscal scrutiny than in personal excitement that his young son would be among the first to benefit from the new facilities.

Architect Michael Strohecker addressed design concerns, confirming the inclusion of both sex-specific and gender-neutral restrooms.

Critics: Tax Burden, Transparency, and Site Concerns

Opposition came primarily from senior citizens and longtime residents worried about affordability and transparency. Falls Township Tax Collector Kim Scarpiello warned that the tax hike could “shove [seniors] out of homes.” Juliana Winberg highlighted income disparities in Falls Township, noting that while the median household income is $86,000, the per capita income drops to $37,000 when retirees and unemployed residents are included.

Critics also questioned the district’s financial projections. Robert Abrams and Tim Daly, both Lower Makefield residents, pointed to cost overruns in past projects—like the stadium renovation ballooning from $4.1 million to $21 million—and raised concerns about the feasibility of staying within the approved budget. Abrams cited a former business manager’s estimate of $368 million, which would have triggered a voter referendum under Act 34.

Site conditions added another layer of controversy. Daly and Abrams presented photos of puddles and sinkholes, even in dry weather, suggesting underground water issues. They urged the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to investigate. While Pennsbury officials insisted the site had been vetted and DEP review is routine, residents remained skeptical.

Andrew Dell, a candidate for the Pennsbury School Board, also voiced strong opposition to the project. He criticized the district’s lack of transparency and questioned the financial prudence of moving forward without a voter referendum. Dell’s remarks echoed broader concerns about the district’s communication and accountability, positioning him as a vocal advocate for fiscal restraint and public oversight. “Everyone is going to have to sell their house because they’re not going to be able to pay their taxes here,” Dell expressed during his remarks, arguing that the cost estimate was unrealistically low.

Referendum Debate and Next Steps

One of the most contentious questions was whether the project should be subject to a public referendum. Currently, the district’s approved cost falls below the threshold that would require one. However, if bids exceed $217.1 million for building construction, either a second Act 34 Hearing will be required or a referendum would be mandated by the PA Department of Education.

The district plans to solicit bids this fall, and the outcome will determine whether a second hearing or referendum is necessary. Written comments from residents are being accepted until October 6, 2025, and can be submitted to the district’s Chief Financial Officer—though the position remains vacant following CFO Chris Berdnik’s recent departure.

Conclusion: A Community at a Crossroads

The Act 34 hearing laid bare the deep divisions within the Pennsbury community. Supporters see the new high school as a long-overdue investment in education and safety. Opponents fear financial overreach, displacement, and lack of transparency. With the bidding process looming and DEP review pending, the district faces a critical juncture—one that may ultimately require voters to decide.

References From Local News Organizations

Delaware Valley Journal: Pennsbury’s $269M High School Plan Faces Cheers, Jeers at Public Hearing

Bucks County Herald: Hearing on new Pennsbury High School shows a split community

LevittownNow.com: Residents Speak Out At Pennsbury Hearing On New High School

The post Pennsbury’s Act 34 Hearing Reveals Deep Community Divide first appeared on Pennsbury411.

Public Comment Allegations Regarding Election Interference

The second speaker at the public meeting was Andrew Dell, a candidate for the Pennsbury School Board. A regular attendee of Pennsbury Board meetings, Dell has consistently voiced concerns about declining academic performance, misplaced priorities on social issues, and financial mismanagement. During the most recent Board meeting, he again raised alarm over the estimated project costs for the planned PHS building, arguing that they are significantly understated. He also questioned the Board on why a referendum was not initiated.

Dell, after discussing key points about the PHS building project, shifted his focus to personal attacks against him on social media. These posts, originating from left-wing activist groups such as Indivisible Bucks County—a local chapter of the Indivisible Project—highlight the intensity of political discourse. While this organization has led protests nationwide, some demonstrations have reportedly escalated into violence, including incidents at Tesla dealerships. In the video below, Dell presents his public remarks and outlines his allegations of political interference in detail.

Who Is Michael Celec?

Michael Celec, a resident of Fairless Hills and the spouse of School Board Member Jeannine Delwiche, has become a frequent attendee of School Board meetings since Delwiche’s election. Celec manages a YouTube channel primarily dedicated to editing and posting videos that often portray private citizens attending Pennsbury public meetings. Many of these videos have been criticized publicly for being taken out of context. Additionally, the content includes footage from Pennsbury security cameras capturing incidents involving attendees who hold differing opinions from the Board, some of which Celec has personally been involved in as documented on his YouTube channel.

Based on publicly available property records, Celec and Delwiche became residents of Falls Township in 2017. Celec’s LinkedIn account shows that he is currently employed as a Library Assistant at Bucks County Community College since 2016. Celec also currently serves as the Executive Director of the Bucks County Audubon Society since January 2023. Form 990s were last filed with the IRS for the Bucks County Audubon Society on April 7, 2024 for Fiscal Year ending June 2023. Historically, the executive director received $85K in annual compensation with a substantial benefits package.

Celec, alongside his spouse Delwiche, have been very active members of Democratic-leaning political groups in Bucks Couty. Utilizing the Wayback Machine, Celec previously served as Deputy Chair of Communications for the Falls Township Democratic Party. Additionally, Delwiche and Celec were announced as new NAACP Bucks County Branch Executive Officers, a group that has routinely brought non-resident activists to Pennsbury School Board meeting.

Pennsbury Has History Political Misconduct

We saw first hand a few months ago the viciousness of some School Board members related to politics when Board Members was attacked over multiple meetings for daring to take a middle ground position around political symbols such as Gay Pride Flags in classrooms. This blog previously reported on the 2021 election misconduct that included cease and desist orders against Republican candidates, federal violations of civil rights during public meetings of community members and a SLAAP lawsuit against Republican candidates brought by Board Members Jeanine Delwiche, Linda Palsky and Joanne Steere after a direct mail campaign made unflattering correlations. SLAAP lawsuits have since become illegal in Pennsylvania due to the abuses by those that file them.

At the recent Pennsbury Board meeting, where Andrew Dell presented his allegations, a Falls Township resident who recognizes as “Watermelon Man” during public comment, revisited one of the community’s most controversial political moments from the 2021 election: the “Peace Vigil” held at the Garden of Reflection. At this event, Pennsbury School Board members and candidates alleged death threats whose severity were later disproven during a First Amendment injunction hearing. The Federal court ultimately determined that Pennsbury officials had violated the civil rights of four community members at the hearing.

In addition to revisiting the Gardens of Reflection event, “Watermelon Man” also exposed politically motivated attacks and false allegations against him after attending a recent committee meeting. Pennsbury is believed to have contacted Falls Township police related to a complaint based solely on hearsay, as Right to Know requests revealed that the district had no concrete evidence to support its claims. Important note, “Watermelon Man” is the spouse of Falls Township Supervisor candidate Jennifer Metzger. Both are frequent attendees of Pennsbury School Board meetings and have been vocal critics of the planned PHS building, which is set to be constructed just 30 to 40 yards from their home on Hood Boulevard.

The video of “Watermelon Man” providing public comment related to the false allegation against him and his recounting of the Gardens of Reflection political event can be viewed below.

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