My child is a student in the Cheltenham School District, and when I send him school, like all parents, I expect him to be in a safe and nurturing environment. However, recent concerns have arisen regarding the lack of plan or concrete action from the Cheltenham School Board and the Superintendent, Dr. Brian Scriven, which actively endangers the safety of students.

Parents have repeatedly voiced their concerns about safety protocols, yet it seems these concerns have fallen on deaf ears.  Over the last nine months, there have been published news stories where Cheltenham students have been injured and harmed by not having proper security protocols or measures in place.  An unauthorized person accessed the high school with a weapon-like object.  There are reports of students sexually assaulted on campus.  An unspent bullet casing found in a classroom at one of the elementary schools.

Dr. Scriven, as the appointed leader of the School District, has created an environment where there is a lack of accountability within the administration and general apathy towards their primary objective: keeping our kids safe.  Our fears are that the reported incidents are only the tip of the iceberg.  The lack of consistent messaging, programming and a plan to resolve these publicized incidents suggests there are many similar instances putting our children at harm. While a plan was recently released, it does not feel like enough.

Reports of increased bullying incidents, deteriorating building infrastructure, and insufficient emergency procedures have left many of us worried about our children's daily well-being.  Overall, this is due to a lack of accountability from those in leadership at the School District.  According to the National Center for Education Statistics, school safety is not just about preventing violence but encompasses ensuring the overall mental and physical health of students. Neglect in any of these areas can have severe consequences on a child's education and emotional health. Yet, in Cheltenham, we feel these priorities have been neglected.

To restore trust and ensure that students at Cheltenham School District are safe, it's imperative that an unbiased investigation is conducted. By this petition, we are asking the School District to conduct a full and complete review of Dr. Scriven’s job performance and how an environment was created that resulted in overall administration apathy and lack of care towards the health of local students.

We call upon the school board to act swiftly and decisively. Protect our children, ensure their safety, and restore confidence in our educational institutions. Please sign this petition to demand Dr. Scriven be placed on administrative leave and initiate a full investigation into his handling of student safety concerns.