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Cheltenham board approves two-year academic calendar; superintendent proposes staffing shift to focus on instruction
Summary
At its Jan. 13 meeting the Cheltenham School District board approved a two-year academic calendar and passed the consent agenda. Superintendent Dr. Scriven outlined instructional changes and recommended moving Dr. Siobhan Savage into a new director for teaching and learning role while bringing on Dr. Thomas as an operations consultant.
The Cheltenham School District Board of Directors voted Tuesday to approve a two-year academic calendar for 2026'27 and 2027'28 and carried the consent agenda during its Jan. 13 legislative meeting.
Superintendent Dr. Scriven used his report to summarize districtwide efforts to standardize instructional materials, expand a tiered MTSS intervention model, and deepen professional learning communities. He told the board a personnel recommendation on the agenda would move Dr. Siobhan Savage from assistant superintendent into a new director for teaching and learning position so she can concentrate on curriculum and instruction. "This is specifically so that she can have more of a laser focus on what is our number 1 priority in the district," Dr. Scriven said.
Dr. Scriven also said the district will engage Dr. Thomas in a consulting capacity to assist with operational responsibilities the superintendent previously handled, allowing Scriven to shift more of his time to instructional leadership.
Board members discussed the academic calendar before voting. Doctor Whiting, cochair of the educational affairs committee, said the calendar reflects values of inclusion and respects cultural and religious holidays while providing planning predictability for families. A voice vote carried the motion to adopt the two-year calendar.
Finance and facilities committees reported updates tied to implementation and construction. Financial affairs cochair Mister Epps said the district is expecting a change in the timing and method of about $1,100,000 in state funding, shifting it into a tax equity supplement line; he also previewed an independent audit. Facilities cochair Burdell Williams reported progress at Cheltenham High School's athletic stadium: turf installation, new perimeter fencing and completion of the concrete track surface, and noted a recommendation on the agenda to hire SiteLogix for construction management on Cedar Brook and Glenside expansion projects.
The board also approved two sets of minutes and the consent agenda during the meeting. The superintendent and multiple board members used the meeting to recognize Cedarbrook East students and staff for recent classroom and arts projects.
What happens next: the personnel recommendation and any related contract or job-posting details will appear in subsequent committee materials and board packets, and the facilities construction-management recommendation remains on the agenda for board consideration associated with the expansion projects.
