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Cheltenham superintendent flags Elkins Park building as unreliable, schedules special meeting on options
Summary
Superintendent Dr. Scriven told the school board that a major pipe leak and an ongoing feasibility study show Elkins Park Elementary has outlived its useful life; the district will hold a public special legislative meeting Jan. 29 to present recommended pathways including closure and reconfiguration.
Cheltenham School District Superintendent Dr. Scriven told the board on Jan. 14 that a recent steam leak at Elkins Park Elementary (EP) revealed longstanding, systemic facility failures and accelerated a planned review of three long‑term options, including closure and districtwide reconfiguration.
The superintendent, speaking during his report, said the district began a facilities feasibility study in March 2023 that produced three pathways. He said a community survey showed roughly 82–85% support for “pathway 2,” which would close Elkins Park, reconfigure the elementary grades to a K–5 model at other buildings, and move sixth graders to Cedarbrook Middle School in a 6–8 model. “There is nothing at EP that would not need to be touched,” Dr. Scriven said, and he presented cost estimates from the study: renovating EP would exceed $44,000,000, building a new EP would exceed $80,000,000, and a districtwide retrofit option (the pathway 2 approach) was roughly $71,000,000.
Nut graf: The superintendent said those findings, together with a leak that forced a short‑term closure, made it necessary to accelerate public discussion. The administration announced a special legislative meeting for Jan. 29 at 6 p.m. to present recommended next steps and to take public testimony before the board considers formal action.
Dr. Scriven described the incident that prompted the accelerated timeline: after a snow day, a leak in a crawlspace produced steam that rose through the building, causing condensation and dripping through ceiling tiles and light fixtures. He said the district’s facilities team inspected the building and determined repairs would be required, including replacement of original piping. He said replacing the pipes at EP alone would cost about $1,500,000. He added that the leak forced the district to close schools for two days while crews mitigated damage and replaced ceiling tiles, and he thanked facilities staff and board members who visited EP during repairs.
The superintendent said trustees would receive a formal recommendation at the Jan. 29 special meeting. “We believe in collaboration. We believe that everyone should have a voice, and that will be an opportunity to hear testimonies from those who do show up,” he said.
The facilities committee report, given earlier, noted ongoing projects at Cedarbrook Middle School and Glenside Elementary and confirmed the district and contractor are planning the Cheltenham High School stadium work to align with the first home game on Aug. 29, 2025.
Ending: The district has not adopted a final plan. The Jan. 29 special legislative meeting, open to the public, will include the administration’s recommendations and public testimony; the board will consider formal action after that meeting.
