Cheltenham SD facilities committee reviews snow response, boiler repair and stadium schedule

Cheltenham School District officials told the facilities committee on Feb. 8 that recent weekend storms have complicated snow removal and delayed exterior work on the high-school stadium while they addressed a steam leak that disrupted heating at the administration building.

During a presentation, the district’s facilities staff said crews prioritized clearing Glenside and Ashbourne Road and other campus walkways so students and pedestrians would not be forced to walk on ice. The presenter reported equipment breakdowns that were repaired and said one replacement unit was due for delivery the next day. “We’ve been working diligently to open up those areas to allow the children and pedestrians to have a clear pathway,” the presenter said.

The presenter also described a steam leak in the administration building’s boiler system, calling it a leak on a drip leg that caused a slow loss of water and impaired the boiler. A temporary patch restored heat, and crews are scheduled to perform permanent repairs on Feb. 16, a holiday selected so work can proceed without displacing staff. The presenter told the committee the district expects the repair to be straightforward but warned that tight access and discovery of a second leak could increase costs.

On costs, a district speaker gave a working estimate of about $13,000 for the current repairs and said the single main leak had an earlier quote of roughly $9,000. “I would say we’re right around roughly $13,000,” the presenter said, adding that that figure is the higher estimate and could fall somewhat if no further damage is found.

Committee members raised broader maintenance concerns for aging district buildings and asked whether other facilities might require larger investments. One member characterized the question as a potential multimillion-dollar issue that the board will need to study further.

Separately, the district updated the committee on the high-school stadium project. Officials reported $8,200,000 spent to date with approximately $4,700,000 remaining. Contractors completed a gatehouse roof and some internal plumbing, but ongoing cold temperatures and snow have repeatedly delayed exterior tasks such as turf infill, fencing, masonry and other outdoor work. The district said it still aims for a temporary certificate of occupancy by March 1 so spring sports can proceed, but emphasized that the date depends on weather and contractor scheduling.

The presentation also noted that an outside group, the Cheltenham sports roller-hockey league, has applied for a Philadelphia Flyers grant to refurbish three roller rinks behind Elkins Park School; the district must formally approve any renovations and accept the grant or donation because the site is district-owned property.

The committee approved the January meeting minutes at the start of the session and adjourned after public comment. Next steps include the planned Feb. 16 repairs at the administration building and a contractor schedule update for the stadium when warmer weather allows work to resume.

Actions recorded at the meeting: the committee voted to approve the January minutes and later voted to adjourn the meeting.