Cheltenham School District gets stadium update; graduation moved to Arcadia amid delays

At its May facilities committee meeting, Cheltenham School District staff updated the committee on construction and maintenance work across the district and said the high school stadium will not be guaranteed ready for graduation, prompting a decision to hold the ceremony at Arcadia.

Mr. Carter, who led the presentation, said crews have been planting new flower beds at the high school and continuing work on three major construction projects. He reported that spending to date on the stadium is roughly $9.6 million, and that Glenside/Glennside-related work shows about $1.3 million spent so far, primarily on design fees while bond proceeds are prepared for contractor payments.

"The township was gracious enough to work with the school district and they waved the the vast majority of the permit fees on the three projects," Mr. Carter said, noting remaining pass-through costs relate to outside inspections and plan reviews.

On the stadium, Mr. Carter said painting is complete and some restroom fixtures are installed, but doors and windows have not been fitted. A contractor meeting was scheduled the following morning to identify delays and provide updates on outstanding items, including sink fixtures and plumbing.

District staff described site-specific fixes under way: crews replaced exterior drainage piping near door D01 at Glennside, reset grades, completed footers at door B1 and excavated near door C6 to ensure solid footing for upcoming foundation work. The building elevator has had belts and monitoring modules replaced and has been certified; the site generator installation and certification are complete and the portable generator has been removed.

Committee members pressed staff about the project schedule and payments. Mr. Carter explained contractors submit monthly pay applications; architects and on-site staff verify progress before the district cuts checks. The district intends to disburse payments from the bond account so contractor payments can be traced. Contractors began on-site work in March, and the district is roughly a month behind what the board had hoped for.

Board members also asked about the track surface and the effect of weather on completion. Staff said there is about two weeks of paving left to apply the top coat of asphalt; that asphalt must cure for approximately 30 days before the rubber track surface can be installed and carry the manufacturer's warranty. Given the timing uncertainty, the district will hold graduation at Arcadia, the same backup site used last year, according to a written recommendation from project staff and contractors that was shared with the board.

Public commenters raised site-security concerns after the meeting moved to public questions. Donna Malcolm of Elkins Park said she had observed people enter the field on a weekend and asked how often the site is monitored. Staff responded that the area remains an active construction site and should be secured; they said they will ask the contractor to ensure perimeter fencing and security remain in place.

Mr. Carter also gave an update on the district's facility-management system (FMX), saying staff are populating data and that the goal is to have the system producing automated work orders and visual reports before the start of the next school year. Board members suggested additional community communications about the stadium timeline, signage to improve wayfinding for visitors to athletic fields and parking, and the possibility of summer internships for students interested in facilities work.

The committee recorded a motion to approve the April minutes at the start of the meeting; the motion was seconded and approved by voice. The transcript ends while the chair was asking for a motion to close the meeting, and a formal adjournment time is not recorded in the provided transcript.