Cheltenham board approves superintendent reappointment and green-lights Glenside project amid budget windfall

The Cheltenham School District board on Dec. 9 approved a five-year contract extension for Superintendent Dr. Brian Scriven and carried a consent agenda that includes two elementary additions and several personnel and facilities items.

"That is something that the board will be looking at voting on this evening," Dr. Brian Scriven said as he introduced the Glenside Elementary addition and turned the presentation over to the district’s business director, who cited walkthroughs and a 2022 feasibility study supporting the project. The consent agenda later included both the Glenside and Cedarbrook additions and passed by voice vote.

The board president presented the reappointment of Dr. Scriven: the contract covers July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2031. After a motion and second, multiple board members spoke in favor of the reappointment, citing stability and leadership.

"We have stability that we didn't have before," one board member said in support of the motion. Following the voice vote the chair announced, "The motion carries."

Committee reports that preceded the votes gave context for the approvals. Dan Schulz, reporting for the financial affairs committee, said the recently passed state budget will result in an estimated $2,600,000 increase for Cheltenham — about $1,360,000 more than the district had anticipated — and noted a separate change in the cyber‑charter funding formula that may reduce related expenditures by roughly $400,000. Schulz also highlighted several budget pressures the district will monitor entering the next budget cycle.

Facilities and construction information helped inform the board’s consent vote: committee members said bids for the Cedarbrook expansion and the Glenside addition came in about $5,000,000 under prior estimates, which the committee said should reduce future debt-service needs and lessen potential tax impacts.

Votes at a glance - Approval of November 11 minutes: motion, second; voice vote carried. - Consent agenda (includes Glenside and Cedarbrook construction projects, volunteer approvals, bid awards): approved by voice vote. - Reappointment of Superintendent Dr. Brian Scriven (07/01/2026–06/30/2031): motion, second; approved by voice vote. - Appointment of Montgomery County Intermediate Unit representative (Miss Lohman): motion, second; approved by voice vote.

The meeting concluded with procedural items and no non‑agenda public comments; the board adjourned after a final motion.