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Students press board on future of Shanahan football as superintendent announces staffing shifts
Summary
A Cheltenham High student asked whether the district will guarantee a football season this year amid an ongoing investigation; Superintendent Dr. Scriven said he would follow up after the meeting and outlined personnel changes shifting Dr. Siobhan Savage to a director role and bringing Dr. David Thomas on as a consultant.
A high school junior asked the Cheltenham School District board on Jan. 13 whether the district will commit to a football season while the district’s investigation is ongoing, and the superintendent said he would follow up with the student after the meeting.
Eli “Mellow” Stingman, who identified himself as a junior at Cheltenham High School, told the board he has one high school football season left and asked: “Is the district committed to ensuring there will be a football season for student athletes this year? And what is the timeline for announcing a new coaching staff or interim leadership?”
Superintendent Dr. Scriven responded that he believed the student had emailed him and asked the student to stay after the meeting so he could address the questions personally: “If you and your teammate … hold tight for after this meeting, I’ll address you personally,” he said.
The exchange occurred after Dr. Scriven’s superintendent’s report, in which he detailed instructional priorities and announced a personnel recommendation that will change the responsibilities of Dr. Siobhan Savage. Dr. Scriven said the board will see a recommendation to move Dr. Savage from assistant superintendent into a new director for teaching and learning role, freeing a separate position focused on operations. He also introduced Dr. David Thomas, who spoke briefly and identified himself as joining the district in a consulting capacity to assist with operations.
Dr. Scriven framed the personnel change as an effort to “have more of a laser focus on what is our number one priority in the district” — instructional practice and fidelity in classrooms — and said some operational duties will be assumed by Dr. Thomas as consultant.
The transcript does not record a formal vote on the personnel reorganization during the meeting’s public portion; Dr. Thomas’s presence and the personnel recommendation were discussed as part of the superintendent’s report and later acknowledged after the consent vote. The student’s questions about the football program were not answered on the record with a definitive timeline; the superintendent indicated he would follow up directly with the student.
Alongside the student speaker, Melvin Pitts, the newly elected Cheltenham Township finance officer, introduced himself to the board and said he looks forward to working with the district.
The meeting adjourned after committee reports, required votes and public comment.
