Frustrated parents berate school board in fallout since Cheltenham hazing scandal

CHELTENHAM, Pa. (KYW Newsradio) — Angry and frustrated parents and community members in the Cheltenham School District aired their grievances with the school board Tuesday night. It was the first board meeting since a group of high school football coaches and students were charged in connection with a locker room assault of a 15-year-old.

The parents and community members did not hold back during the hours-long meeting. One by one, they went up to the podium and faced the school board members to unleash their criticisms and concerns.

“You should all be ashamed of yourselves. You brought us here! The district attorney of Montgomery County told us — you can’t even protect our children, let alone our teachers,” said Elizabeth Karras.

“We are demanding a fundamental shift in how our school district operates. The protection and well-being and educational excellence of our students must stand as a priority for this district,” another woman said.

Four former high school football coaches and six students were charged in connection with a football player who was allegedly assaulted twice in the locker room in 2025. The hazing led to the cancellation of the 2025 and 2026 football seasons.

“For his senior year, he had to come out of that school,” a parent of a former Cheltenham football player said. “And I could not be happier that his diploma does not read Cheltenham High School.”

Superintendent Dr. Brian Scriven resigned last week, telling the board that “the district is best served by a fresh start under new leadership.”

“These events have breached the public trust, and we are deeply sorry for the pain and frustration that has occurred,” Board President Leah Mulhearn said Tuesday night. “The hard truth is we must acknowledge that mistakes were made and we must take action, first and foremost, to ensure nothing like this happens again.”

Mulhearn said an independent attorney is reviewing district policies.

The district is also dealing with the fallout of a security breach at the high school. Officials said a 21-year-old and a student got into the building after hours back in April, and there was inappropriate behavior. The student was disciplined, and officials said the man was charged with “unauthorized entry and illegal sexual contact with a juvenile inside the school.”