Facilities staff briefed the Cheltenham School District Facilities Committee on Jan. 6 on athletic-project progress, including cosmetic work in the high school lobby and ongoing work on the football field, but cautioned that the track likely will not be ready for early spring events.

Staff said crews have sanded and stained lobby woodwork, installed kick plates and painted walls to improve the high school entry area. At the stadium, work on the playing surface is underway but permanent markings, including Panther names at field ends, remain to be completed.

When asked whether the track will be ready for the spring track season, staff said weather is a major constraint for laying concrete. Finance staff added that the track "needs 30 consecutive days of weather that's dropped below 50 degrees" to cure and projected a likely completion window of late spring to early summer; staff also said the district is arranging practice locations in the interim.

Committee members praised the lobby work and encouraged staff to report an updated schedule after upcoming contractor meetings. There were no formal votes or budget approvals on athletic projects at the meeting.