Parents Demand Safety Improvements At Cheltenham Schools

CHELTENHAM TOWNSHIP, PA — Following charges against 10 people for the assault of a Cheltenham Township High School football player, parents are demanding safety improvements.

In the wake of the charges and the resignation last week of Schools Superintendent Brian W. Scriven, parents turned out at Tuesday night's Cheltenham Township School Board meeting to demand answers after two locker room hazing incidents that led to the cancellation of this year's varsity and junior varsity high school football schedule.

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"You should all be ashamed of yourselves. You brought us here. The District Attorney of Montgomery County told us you can't protect our children, let alone our teachers," Cheltenham resident Elizabeth Karras said at the meeting.

Cheltenham School Board President Leah Mulhearn addressed the district's challenges after a "tumultuous" school year.

Mulhearn informed parents that the school board has retained a private attorney to lead an independent review of the school district's policies and procedures.

Four Cheltenham High School football coaches and six players were charged last week in two locker room incidents where multiple players beat a sophomore player in August and September 2025, authorities said.

The charges stemmed from two alleged assaults of a football player that happened in the locker room and led to the eventual cancellation of two football seasons.

A grand jury interviewed over 25 witnesses and found out that there were two incidents instead of one initially reported: One on Aug.15, 2025, and one on Sept. 3, 2025.

On both occasions, multiple football players were in the locker room when a 15-year-old sophomore and member of the football team was assaulted.

Mulhearn said that the football program won't be reinstated again after all sports programs have been examined for safety.

The charges were followed by the resignation of Schools Superintendent Brian W. Scriven last Thursday.

The parent-teachers organization at Cheltenham High School is urging the community to focus on the well-being of the students, families, and staff who make up the entirety of the school.

Over 1,200 students start school on Aug. 31.