Elkins Park Closure

Dear Cheltenham School District Community,

We are writing to you today to share an important update regarding the future configuration of our schools, following the school board’s recent vote. On Tuesday, May 27, 2025, the CSD Board of School Directors approved the recommendation for the permanent closing of the Elkins Park School building to educational use, effective at the end of the current school year. This decision followed the required public hearing held on Wednesday, February 26, 2025, and the subsequent ninety (90) day period leading up to the vote. A thirty (30) day written comment period was also held, which concluded on Friday, March 28, 2025, during which no written comments were received.

This reconfiguration is a necessary step as we move forward with significant construction projects aimed at enhancing our facilities, specifically additions at Glenside Elementary School and Cedarbrook Middle School, which are anticipated to be completed and open in Fall 2027.

Here are the key changes you can expect as we transition for the 2025-2026 school year:

• K-5 Elementary School Model: Starting in the 2025-2026 school year, our elementary schools will operate as K-5 buildings. This means that current 4th graders will remain in their elementary schools as rising 5th graders. Fifth grade students will be self-contained as part of the elementary school model. They will primarily utilize existing instructional materials, with the exception of some science materials that will be part of our purchase of high-quality instructional materials. Staffing adjustments have been made to support this model, including assistant principals being reassigned to Cheltenham, Wyncote, and Glenside Elementary, and a teacher on assignment at Myers Elementary. Special Education staffing has been adjusted, with an autism support classroom moving from Wyncote to Glenside to ensure  every elementary school has at least one autism support classroom. Learning support teachers have also been redistributed. Encore programming will see STEM become a standalone class in grades K-5. Elementary schools will share two floating gifted teachers whose assignment will be 100% gifted education. Additional instrumental music teachers will support 4th through 6th grades. Counselors and nurses will  be reassigned. Preliminary re-assignments have been provided to all Elkins Park faculty and staff for elementary schools and 6th grade as part of Cedarbrook.
   
• Sixth Grade at the Modulars: For the 2025-2026 school year, rising 6th graders will move to the modular buildings. There will be a 2025-2026 cohort of 6th graders and a 2026-2027 cohort of 6th graders before moving to the newly expanded Cedarbrook Middle School for the 2027-2028 school year. The schedule at the modulars will mimic the schedule at Cedarbrook and utilize a team model. We are implementing a 6th Grade Success Academy Model, utilizing a teacher on assignment to support its coordination and implementation. This model aims to provide additional support with professional learning, support professional learning communities, utilize data tools to inform instruction and interventions, and ensure appropriate social-emotional learning opportunities. Some instructional materials will be replaced as we move through our high-quality instructional materials adoption and implementation process. A gifted and a separate STEM teacher will be at the modulars for 6th grade. Both physical education/health teachers from Elkins Park School will move to the modulars. Current Elkins Park math and reading specialists will support 6th grade students. ESL teachers will continue to support students. A counselor and a nurse from Elkins Park School will be reassigned to the modulars. Extra Duty, Extra Pay (EDEP) positions, such as clubs and intramural sports, will be maintained at the modulars.
   
• EPIC Relocation: The Empowerment Program in Cheltenham (EPIC) will be relocated to the new wing in the Elkins Park School building, which was built in 1991. This space offers 12 classrooms and office spaces for use. The main office of Elkins Park School will remain open for EPIC use, as well as other parts of the building. Whitsons will prepare food for the EPIC students in the kitchen at Elkins Park. Holistic support will be provided to students at EPIC.

We are also addressing various logistical aspects of this transition. Regarding transportation, we will be moving from four school timelines to three for bus scheduling, but routes are expected to remain similar. Parking needs are being considered. Food services for 6th graders will involve food being prepared at Elkins Park (or a kitchen) and transported to the Modulars, where it will be kept warm or cold in new equipment in a modified kitchen. This arrangement is temporary until 6th grade moves to Cedarbrook.

Professional development will be provided for teachers switching content areas and for the transition, with summer institutes being structured and scheduled for 2025. Staff at Elkins Park will be asked to spend their last in-service day (June 20) packing classrooms. A system for tagging and labeling items for moving has been created, and summer help is being hired to support the move.

The Elkins Park gym will remain open for scheduled use for 6th grade students and staff, including for after school activities. The library at Elkins Park School will also remain open for student use. Evening activities currently utilizing Elkins Park School will be relocated to other schools as necessary.

We remain committed to transparency and engaging with the community regarding these plans. We will continue to utilize various communication mechanisms, including letters to the community, a webpage with frequently asked questions (FAQs), news shares, and principal and teacher newsletters.

We appreciate your understanding and support as we undertake these necessary steps to improve our facilities and educational programs, aligning with our vision to be a community where all students belong, engage, and excel, and our mission to provide inspiration and resources for every student to achieve academic excellence and pursue their highest potential.

Dear Cheltenham Community,

I am writing to provide an overview of the district’s process for the recommended closure of Elkins Park School. This decision is the result of extensive deliberation and strategic planning spanning more than a year and was not made lightly.

On February 6, 2024, during a meeting of the Financial Affairs Committee, KCBA Architects presented a comprehensive facilities capacity and program study. This study included an in-depth facility condition assessment and an enrollment analysis conducted by Montgomery County. The findings of this feasibility study concluded that Elkins Park School has reached the end of its functional lifespan as an educational facility.

Following these findings, the district developed a realignment plan to retain rising fifth-grade students in their current elementary schools while transitioning rising sixth-grade students to Cedarbrook beginning in the 2027-28 school year. To accommodate this transition, planned expansions were proposed for both Cedarbrook and Glenside to ensure adequate space for the additional students.

In April 2024, the district conducted a facilities survey, which received responses from nearly 900 stakeholders. The results indicated that 70% of respondents supported the sixth-grade realignment plan, while 85% expressed approval of the fifth-grade realignment.

However, in January 2025, following a two-day closure of Elkins Park School due to a significant boiler leak, it became evident that the facility could no longer be relied upon for continued use. Consequently, the district made a recommendation to expedite the realignment plan, with the grade restructuring now scheduled to commence in the 2025-26 school year.

To facilitate this transition, the district has recommended the following actions for the 2025-26 school year:

• Relocating rising sixth-grade students to the modular units adjacent to Elkins Park School
• Retaining 2024-25 rising fifth-grade students in their current elementary schools, as originally planned as fifth graders
• Relocating the Empowerment Program in Cheltenham (EPIC), which was previously housed in the modular units

On February 4, 2025, the district hosted a public information session to provide updates to the community. Additionally, on February 26, 2025, a public hearing was held in accordance with the Pennsylvania Department of Education's guidelines for school closures.

The Board of School Directors is scheduled to vote on the administration’s recommendation to close Elkins Park School in May 2025, which adheres to Pennsylvania Department of Education guidelines to hold a legislative session 90 days from the public hearing (May 27 @ 7 p.m.). While this decision is undoubtedly challenging, it is a necessary course of action given the condition of the facility and the opportunity to minimize further disruptions to students.

Community members who wish to provide input on this matter may submit public comments by delivering or mailing a letter to the Cheltenham School District Administration Building at 2000 Ashbourne Road, Elkins Park, no later than 4 p.m. on March 28, 2025.

We appreciate your patience and understanding as we finalize the details of this transition. We remain committed to keeping the community informed throughout this important process and will continue to provide updates as new developments arise. Thank you for your support and engagement.

At a special legislative meeting on Tuesday, May 27, the CSD Board of School Directors voted unanimously to close the Elkins Park School, which houses the district’s fifth and sixth graders. According to the feasibility study the district commissioned, Elkins Park School has outlasted its “useful life.” 

Under the plan Administration put forth, rising fifth graders would remain in elementary schools for the 25-26 school year. The Empowerment Program in Cheltenham (EPIC) would move into the new wing of Elkins Park School (built in 1991). Rising sixth graders would move to the modulars for the 25-26 school year, and sixth grade only will remain there for 26-27 school year. Rising sixth graders would move to Cedarbrook for the 27-28 school year.

As a result of the grade reconfiguration, Cedarbrook will receive a 19-classroom addition, and Glenside will add six classrooms and expanded parking.

For more detailed information, view the slide deck and video>

The CSD Board of School Directors convened for an information session regarding the future of Elkins Park School on Tuesday, February 4, 2025, in-person and via video conferencing.

Following a review of the timeline of board actions discussing and impacting the Elkins Park School facility, Superintendent Dr. Brian Scriven presented the administration’s recommendation to the board that the Elkins Park School be closed at the conclusion of this school year and the district be reconfigured to include kindergarten through fifth grade elementary schools, a sixth through eighth grade middle school and a ninth through 12th grade high school. This recommendation matches the recommendation made, and approved by the board, that the district pursue construction projects at Glenside Elementary School and Cedarbrook Middle School to accommodate this reconfiguration. As a result, at the beginning of the 2025-26 school year, rising fifth graders will remain in their elementary schools, and rising sixth graders would move to the Modulars currently located on the site of the Elkins Park School under the Cedarbrook Middle School umbrella. The Empowerment Program in Cheltenham (EPIC) will move to a leased space, if available, or remain in the Modulars with a smaller footprint. The rest of the presentation included information related to elementary school enrollment, the impact on staff, and the costs associated with the plan.

As required by a law, the next step in the school closure process is to hold a public hearing to provide a more detailed presentation to the community and a period for the community to share or submit comments. A legal notice will be published in a newspaper of general circulation within the district at least 15 days prior to the date of the hearing. At least three months after the date of the hearing, the board will vote on the final administrative recommendation. Slide deck> | Video>

The Board of School Directors convened on Wednesday, January 29, 2025, for a special legislative meeting to discuss the future operations and potential grade reconfiguration at Elkins Park School.

The Superintendent opened the meeting by reviewing the previously approved plan to retain rising fifth graders in their elementary schools and transition sixth graders to Cedarbrook Middle School beginning in the 2027-28 school year. This plan includes additions to both Glenside Elementary and Cedarbrook. However, due to the condition of Elkins Park School, administration has proposed an alternate timeline for expediting vacating, with an optional plan of relocating students by the end of the current school year, 2024-2025.

The Director of Business Services presented the current state of Elkins Park School, referencing the feasibility study that determined the facility (Elkins Park School) has surpassed its useful life. He outlined the financial implications, comparing the cost of the necessary construction projects, estimated at $34.7 million, to the significantly higher cost of rebuilding Elkins Park, projected between $65 and $80 million.

The Superintendent and Assistant Superintendent then reviewed four proposed options for the board’s consideration:

Status Quo – Remaining in Elkins Park for two more years.
Leasing – Relocating Elkins Park students to a leased facility.
Immediate Move – EP Open – Keeping fifth graders in their current elementary schools while relocating sixth graders to modular classrooms under the name of Elkins Park (Sixth Grade only).
Immediate Move – EP Closed – Keeping fifth graders in their elementary schools and relocating sixth graders to modular classrooms and affiliated to Cedarbrook Middle School.
Additionally, the Superintendent addressed options for the EPIC program, currently housed in the modulars. The Assistant Superintendent provided an overview of key project assumptions, elementary school enrollment capacities, instructional and programmatic impacts, and staffing considerations. The Director of Business Services then detailed the financial implications of each option, including embedded costs such as transportation, professional development, and food services.

Following the presentation, during public comment, the board heard comments and inquiries from faculty, staff and community members. The board then engaged in a discussion, and posed clarifying questions to the administration. The board will reconvene for another special legislative meeting on February 4, 2025, to vote on a final proposed course of action.

Slide deck> | Video> 

Why is CSD closing the Elkins Park School? A feasibility study concluded that Elkins Park School has outlasted its “Useful Life of Building.” The rate of major repair or replacement costs will continue to increase over time, estimated to be in the millions of dollars. Ongoing maintenance concerns already exist: The heating system has malfunctioned, and repair/replace costs are seven figures; other major systems, including electrical supply (insufficient for modern use), and aging plumbing require immediate attention. Aside from building conditions, research shows too many grade transitions can be detrimental to students’ development. Shuttering Elkins Park School eliminates one student building transition.

With the closure of Elkins Park School, where will CSD’s fifth and sixth graders be housed in 2025-2026? Rising fifth graders will remain in elementary schools starting in the 2025-2026 school year, and will be self-contained as part of the elementary school model. Rising sixth graders will move to the modulars adjacent to Elkins Park School starting in the 2025-2026 school year under the “Cedarbrook” umbrella.

What’s the future of the Elkins Park School building? CSD has not decided how the property the Elkins Park School sits on will be used in the future. For the meantime, the Empowerment Program in Cheltenham (EPIC), a program that is part of the Cheltenham High School, will be housed in the “new wing” of the Elkins Park School. The “new wing” was built in 1991. Other parts of the Elkins Park School will remain open for District and student use, including the main office, the gym and the library, both of which will be accessible to students during the day and afterschool for Physical Education and extracurricular activities, and the cafeteria, which will be utilized to prepare meals for students at the modulars and for EPIC.

How will bus transportation be impacted? CSD will be moving from four school timelines to three for purposes of scheduling buses, but routes will remain similar.  Sixth grade students will move onto Cedarbrook’s schedule. There won’t be a significant impact on the cost of the bus routes. 

How will Gifted Education and STEM be changing? CSD will no longer be using the “challenge program” as a moniker for gifted and Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) education. In grades K-5, STEM will become a stand-alone Special (like art, music, etc.). Students who have gifted individualized education plans (GIEPs) will now receive the dedicated support of Gifted Teachers, whose assignment will be 100% gifted education. Sixth grade will have separate Giftedx and STEM teachers at the modulars.

What’s next in the closure process? As required by a law, a public hearing was held on Wednesday, February 26, 2025, to provide a more detailed presentation to the community, followed by public comment and a period for the community to submit written comments regarding the plan. On May 27, 2025, the Board voted to close the Elkins Park School.  During the summer of 2025, finalized plans will be implemented and furniture and materials will be redistributed across the District to support students in their new locations. Staff will also receive final reassignments, and master schedules for the elementary schools and Cedarbrook will be finalized for implementation in Fall 2025 for the 2025-2026 school year. 

How will the district provide extra support for rising 5th and 6th grade students who are being asked to undergo a highly irregular school year? Implementation of a 6th Grade Academy model and providing additional support.  This model utilizes a teacher on assignment to coordinate individualized planning and instruction for our 6th grade students to ensure they are appropriately supported.  Elementary Schools are receiving additional support as well in the form of Assistant Principals, teachers on assignment, and additional counselors. 

Has the district considered additional programming or extra incentives to support 6th grade students? Yes, particularly maintaining some of the ongoing programming to ease students into the transition and provide access to additional counseling and academic support. 

Will there be any renovations or reconfigurations to ensure students have enough room? Glenside and Cedarbrook will receive additions. We plan to have those projects complete so that those classrooms can open in the fall 2027. 

How will the addition of a new grade impact class sizes and student-teacher ratios? Class sizes will stay well below the average of 25 prescribed by board policy 126.

What are the plans for additional counseling or behavioral support staff to assist with the transition? Additional counseling support and behavioral support are being provided at the elementary school and for the 6th grade in the form of additional staff and administrators at Cheltenham, Glenside, and Wyncote Elementary Schools.

How will families be kept informed throughout the transition process? CSD will continue to share regular updates through its communication channels, including the Sunday news share and communications from Dr. Scriven.

How will the schools ensure academic rigor and support for students who may need extra help? CSD will continue to utilize Multi-Tiered Systems of Support and is working on an expanded and more well-defined grid of interventions for academic, behavioral and attendance support.

Will there be opportunities for parents to provide input or feedback as the transition unfolds? PTO meetings and direct conversations with families are a great way to receive feedback regarding plans.  Assistant Superintendent Savage and Superintendent Scriven have attended faculty meetings, PTO meetings, and other events to share updates and information and will continue to do so.

Is there space in our current buildings for fifth grade? The school district studied enrollment projections to find out if the school district's enrollment was growing, shrinking or staying the same, as well as how many classes and students each of our schools could hold. This research indicated CSD’s enrollment will remain flat in the future. Cedarbrook and Glenside are the two schools that would need more space, and they are getting additions. See chart below.  

Are our elementary schools large enough to accommodate the fifth grade? Yes. Even with keeping the fifth grade in the elementary schools, all four elementary schools are well within the recommended capacity percentage. The district will remain well below the 25-student cap per classroom allowed in board policy 126.

What administrative changes can be expected at the K-5 level? Assistant principals will be assigned to Cheltenham, Glenside, and Wyncote. Myers will have a teacher on assignment, who will be free to assist the principal by providing teacher support and completing other tasks.

How will the closure of EP impact Special Education at the K-5 schools? The Special Education Department is keeping a close on teacher caseloads and is hiring staff to fill vacancies as needed.  The District is prepared to hire additional staff as necessary and is reviewing enrollment and needs regularly.  An autism support classroom will be moved from Wyncote Elementary School to Glenside Elementary School, resulting in each elementary school having at least one autism support classroom.

How will this move impact Encore classes at the K-5 schools? In order for CSD to honor its collective bargaining agreements, an additional Encore class must be added at the K-5 level. STEM will become a stand-alone Encore class (like art, music and physical education). 

How will this move impact instrumental music programming in the K-5 schools? CSD will hire an additional instrumental music teacher for strings, and will then have four instrumental music teachers (two for strings, two for band). These teachers will work with the principals and the CSD Office of Education to create a rostered schedule to support instrumental music in fourth through sixth grades.

How will this impact nurses and counselors at the K-5 level? Elkins Park counselors and nurses have been reassigned to support our elementary schools and the modulars. Cheltenham, Glenside and Wyncote Elementary Schools will each receive an additional counselor.

How will extracurricular opportunities work for 5th graders? Will there be enough space to include 5th graders in these experiences, or will other programming be offered? Students will be included in the afterschool programming that is offered at the elementary schools. There will be enough space for our rising 5th graders and we will also offer additional extracurricular programming in our elementary schools to accommodate student interest and need.

How will the curriculum for the new grade align with the school’s existing instructional approach? Fifth grade will be self-contained and will fit into the elementary school model, and will have the same encore classes as the current kindergarten through fourth grade students. Fourth and fifth grade will have instrumental music - strings and now, band.  The District will continue to utilize instructional materials currently utilized in 5th grade, with the exception of science, as new high school quality instructional materials will be purchased and piloted in all grades during the 2025-2026 school year.

What will school leadership look like in sixth grade at the modulars? CSD will have a lead administrator / 6th Grade Assistant Principal stationed at the modulars and a teacher on assignment to assist with the 6th Grade Academy model. 

What changes can sixth graders expect in terms of curriculum, instruction and programming? The sixth grade schedule will mimic Cedarbrook Middle School’s schedule and will utilize a team model. The district is implementing a sixth grade success academy model, and will utilize a teacher to support the coordination and implementation of the success academy. Some instructional materials for mathematics and science will be replaced with new materials as CSD moves through its high- quality instructional materials adoption and implementation process. 

What can sixth grade special education students expect? Multiple learning support teachers will move to the modulars to support our students who receive special education support and services. The current Elkins Park emotional support and life skills/autism support teachers will move to the modulars as well.

How will sixth grade Encore classes be impacted? Sixth grade will have a STEM teacher, as well as physical education/health teachers who were all part of the Elkins Park School staff. The Elkins Park gym will remain open for scheduled use. In addition, an art teacher, a world language teacher, a general music/choral teacher, and instrumental music teachers, one for strings and one for band, will be housed at the modulars for our 6th grade students.

What about additional staffing at the modulars for the sixth graders? Students will continue to receive the support of their ESL teachers. One of the Elkins Park School counselors and the Elkins Park School nurse will remain at the modulars to support our 6th graders.

What will the schedule look like for sixth graders? The scheduling teams at Cedarbrook and Elkins Park are creating a schedule together that mimic the schedule at Cedarbrook, with a number of encore options for students, as well as longer instructional blocks. 

How will afterschool programs be impacted by the move to the modulars? Extra Duty, Extra Pay (EDEP) positions will be maintained at the modulars. Sixth graders will have access to clubs and intramural sports. The Elkins Park gym will remain open for after school activities for sixth grade students and staff.

Will there be food service at the modulars? Whitson’s will prepare food for the sixth grade students in a kitchen and transport the prepared food to the modulars, where it will be kept warm or cold in new equipment in a modified kitchen. This would be temporary and until 6th grade moves to Cedarbrook. 

Will 6th graders in modulars have their own busing or will they be on buses that go to Cedarbook then to Elkins Park School? We expect as few changes as possible to the transportation services now offered.

How will moving sixth grade to the modulars impact the Empowerment Program in Cheltenham (EPIC)? EPIC will vacate the modulars and move to the Elkins Park School’s “new wing.” There are 12 classrooms and office spaces available for use. The main office of Elkins Park School will remain open for EPIC use as well. Students will have access to the gymnasium and to the Elkins Park School library, but such use will be carefully scheduled to avoid overlap with the 6th grade’s use of the same spaces. The EPIC program will be maintained in its current state; no programmatic changes will occur. For EPIC, this is a location move only. 

Would  EPIC ever move back to the modulars? The district will consider additional moves for EPIC as the need arises.

How will the township support morning arrival and dismissal? In the same fashion as they do now.  The district continues to work with the township regarding arrival and dismissal for all of its schools, and looks forward to continuing this relationship. 

How will the memory and legacy of Elkins Park School be preserved? Have plans been made for additional programming to provide adequate closure for a school that has been a fixture in Cheltenham Township for decades? Plans are in the works. The district is planning for a celebration of Elkins Park School to occur in late Summer or early Fall 2025.

Will there be staff reductions? No current CSD employees will be furloughed or will lose their job.

What is the school change process for general education teachers? A survey was shared with the general education teachers at the Elkins Park School with possible placements, including fifth grade self-contained slots in the elementary schools and subject-specific sixth grade slots at the modulars. At this point, all general education teachers have received tentative placements, which will be finalized in the upcoming weeks. 

What sort of professional development will staff changing schools receive? Professional development will be provided for teachers switching content areas or grades over the summer.  Summer Institutes will occur this summer to support teacher transitions.

How will classrooms be moved? CSD will ask staff at Elkins Park School and staff in elementary schools that are changing classrooms to spend their last inservice day packing classrooms (currently June 20th). Items that need to be moved will be tagged and labeled. A system has been created to coordinate the color of the tags with the eventual location the items will be moved to. The district has posted for and is hiring summer help to support the move, and will likely rent vehicles to move items.

Will the proposed professional development for staff members changing schools, grade levels, and or subject areas be mandatory? If a staff member is unable to attend, what support will they receive to prepare for the change? The proposed professional development is optional for staff members due to our collective bargaining agreements; however staff will be fully compensated if they choose to participate in summer institutes.  If a staff member is unable to attend, the team in the Office of Education, along with school principals, will support the staff member during the opening professional development days of the 2025-2026 academic year by acclimating them to the relevant instructional materials and school expectations.

With several staff members in each school transitioning to different positions, what additional coaching and support will be offered throughout the year? The team in the Office of Education will provide additional support throughout the 2025-2026 school year, and will utilize mentor teachers as necessary to provide additional coaching and support.  

For teachers who are transitioning to new positions, will the district provide funding for classroom set up and/or supplies? Will any other compensation be offered? Requests for additional supplies and materials should be made directly to the building principal.  All school budgets have been proportionally adjusted for the 2025-2026 school year to reflect the changes in enrollment at each school.  In addition, each teacher will receive a $100 supply allotment, regardless of grade level or subject. 

Will teachers be given access to classrooms over the summer or additional prep time in August to set up new classrooms? Will families and community members be allowed to assist teachers in setting up new classrooms? Yes, staff will be able to access classrooms during August professional development.  Due to safety concerns, families and community members will not be allowed to assist teachers in setting up new classrooms.  However, the additional staff hired by the District for summer seasonal work to assist with the moves will be available to help staff. 

With the addition of another grade level, will there be additional staff to support recess and lunch at the elementary schools? Yes.  Additional staffing is being considered on a school by school basis.

How will gifted programming be altered based on the restructuring proposal? Gifted education will be provided by dedicated gifted teachers per students’ individualized gifted education plans (GIEPs).  

What curriculum will the STEM class follow? Is there a scope and sequence already generated? How does this connect with the new PA STEELS standards? The district will be constructing a scope and sequence for the new STEM class in conjunction with teachers over the summer.  The curriculum for the STEM class will be connected to the new PA STEELS Standards. 

What spaces will be available for learning support teachers, specialists, and therapists to meet with students? As in the past, teachers, specialists and therapists have been assigned their own spaces within schools. 

Will families be able to see building plans to know locations of homeroom classes and support services? For safety reasons, full building maps are not being released publicly.