Dr. Brian W. Scriven, superintendent of the Cheltenham School District, issued a notice to the community on Sunday evening which states that the duration of the Cheltenham High School football season has been cancelled.
The announcement follows Friday’s notice regarding the postponement of the evening’s football game between Cheltenham and Truman high schools due to alleged hazing within the program. Sunday’s notice says that the weekend was spent investigating the hazing allegations, and that the season’s cancellation is “due to the need to continue and deepen our investigation” which is being led by an external consultant over the coming weeks.
“We do not condone or tolerate hazing or abuse of any kind in our sports programs or in our schools,” Dr. Scriven wrote. “It is our duty and obligation to protect and prioritize student safety and well being, even when we know that our decisions may come with consequences and disappointment.”
According to the notice, the district received an allegation approximately three weeks ago which claimed that a student was assaulted in the football team’s locker room. Cheltenham school officials immediately reported the information to ChildLine services and the Cheltenham Township Police Department “and followed all legally mandated procedures to investigate the alleged incident, which we believed to be isolated.”
During the investigation, officials found additional information “indicating that hazing and/or inappropriate physical conduct may be occurring more broadly in the program” along with “reports indicating multiple team members engaged in hazing through physical contact.”
The notice continues:
We fully understand this decision will bring a range of emotions and opinions. We are very sensitive to the emotions of those most directly impacted, including our football players and their families, and the students and families participating in our high school pep band, color guard, drumline and cheerleading programs.
Hazing is a very serious and significant issue in school athletic programs and can lead to criminal charges. We ask for continued patience and respect for our obligation to thoroughly investigate these allegations. We also ask that our school community not rush to judgement against any of our student-athletes or coaches.
The district will also determine ways to recreate “Senior Night” for the uninvolved football players and cheerleading, pep band, color guard and drumline members who did not participate in that important tradition due to the cancellation of Friday’s game. We will do our very best to involve students as we develop new plans to honor our seniors.
As a parent, educator, and former coach and student-athlete, I am troubled by this matter on numerous levels. This decision is not one that was made lightly. I will continue to communicate as openly as possible as we work through this in the coming days and weeks. We must move forward as a district and school community committed to student safety and respect, and do all we can to uphold those values.
Anyone with information about this matter should contact Cheltenham police, Dr. Scriven said, noting that the school’s counselors, psychologist, and district social workers will be available on Monday to provide support to students and staff. If you have any questions or would like to speak with someone, you can contact the counseling office at 215-517-3782.
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