Chelsea High administrators describe new random-search procedures, wand scans, ID rollout and cell-phone timeline

Interim Principal Alan Beaucelet and Director of Security Frank Henry told the Chelsea Public Schools school committee on April 9, 2025, that Chelsea High School has tightened entry procedures and added metal-detection wand scans as part of a broader safety plan that also includes reinforcing a no-hats-or-hoods rule, expanding ID use and preparing to implement a district cell-phone ban in fall 2025.

The presentation followed a youth listening session on March 26 and other student feedback, committee members said, and staff described steps intended to make entry screening more systematic and less discretionary. "We have told [door staff] that they need to pick a number and it needs to be that particular number of student coming through the door," Beaucelet said, describing how random bag searches are conducted by counting every Nth student passing a doorway. "We don't want people to feel like they're being targeted or singled out. We want to make sure that it's 100% random," Frank Henry added.

Why it matters: committee members and students raised concerns about fairness and over-criminalization of Black and brown youth. Several committee members urged the administration to continue centering student voice and to balance security measures with supports such as mental-health services.

Key details reported at the meeting: - Security staff: Beaucelet said Chelsea High has increased security to about 15 staff members and intends to retain that level next year. The administration meets regularly with lead security guard Fido Ramirez. - Random searches: The school moved to a numbered-count method for random bag checks (for example, every third or fifth student); wand scans are added on a similar rotation. Beaucelet said the wand protocol began about two weeks before the meeting and that Henry has overseen training and CPD (Chelsea Police Department) coordination. - Entry times and tardy procedures: Doors open to students at 7:30 a.m.; class begins at 8:00 a.m. Students arriving at or after 8:00 a.m. are processed through a tardy line that runs until about 8:45 a.m.; students log IDs in the Aspen system during check-in. - Student IDs: The high school is working to issue new picture IDs for every student next year so staff can verify identity more quickly; temporary stickers have been discussed for students who lose IDs. - Cell-phone policy: The school committee passed a district cell-phone policy in December 2024 that prohibits student phone use during the school day; Chelsea High is developing an implementation and communication plan and a committee expects full roll-out in fall 2025. - School resource officer: Officer Garrison Daniels is the SRO at Chelsea High and is on-site daily to support outreach and emergency responses; Beaucelet said Daniels will have a dedicated office to reduce time spent off-site.

Committee responses and student voice: School committee member Jonathan Gomez Pereira read a submitted statement from the March 26 youth listening session, noting that "throughout the duration of that half an hour meeting, no student mentioned that they would feel safer with the implementation of metal detectors." Committee members cited upcoming opportunities for student feedback, including a student summit and a Panorama spring survey that the district will use to gather further input.

The administration framed the changes as efforts to increase predictability and fairness in screening while maintaining student privacy and avoiding practices that could criminalize youth. Several committee members asked for continued attention to parent notification, data on incidents that drive security measures and expanded mental-health supports alongside security work.

The presentation concluded with committee appreciation for staff and students who participated in the listening session and related follow-up activities.