Cheltenham superintendent reports 81% average on safety assessment, plans school-by-school corrective steps

Superintendent Dr. Scriven told the school board at its May meeting that the district has completed an initial safety and security assessment with the Center for Safe Schools and will publicly release the full findings in June.

"It is paramount that creating a safe environment is at the forefront of what we do," Dr. Scriven said, explaining the district’s work on investigation procedures and serious-incident reporting. He said the Center’s 100-point scoring showed an average district score of 81%, which falls in the 60–90 band the Center describes as "well structured" but short of the 90% band the district is aiming to reach.

The Center for Safe Schools assessment examines five domains: emergency preparedness and operations; access control and visitor management; physical security and site conditions; behavior health and student support; and training, climate and policy. Dr. Scriven said the Center’s model is aligned to Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD) standards and that the Center was formed in response to PA Act 44.

Dr. Scriven said the district conducted two internal administrative trainings — one on investigations and another on serious-incident reporting — and that school-level results will guide differentiated corrective-action plans. "We know we need to level up to hit that next band, which is 90% or higher," he said, and the district plans school-specific implementation timelines once the Center’s final report is delivered.

The superintendent said the Center will present findings and recommended phases of implementation publicly to the board and community; the report is expected in early June. He noted the district prioritized secondary schools (high school and middle school) for behavioral health and climate assessment because data indicate greater attention is needed there.

Board members did not vote on the assessment itself at the meeting but received the superintendent’s update and were told details about next steps would be posted on the district website and presented in a formal session with Center representatives.

What happens next: Center for Safe Schools representatives will present the full assessment and phased recommendations publicly; the district will develop corrective-action plans for each school and publish implementation timelines.