At its March 24 meeting the Chelsea School Committee approved a package of routine but formal items by roll call votes recorded as 7 in the affirmative and 2 absent. Key outcomes:

• Forego school choice for 2025–26: By roll call (Miss Hernandez, Mister O'Regan, Miss Enriquez, Miss Cabral, Miss Balderas, Doctor Neville and Miss Cova Scaraballo voting yes; two absent), the committee voted to forego participation in the state school-choice program for the 2025–26 school year. Committee members clarified that voting "yes" on the item signified approval of the motion as presented to forego choice.

• Adopt 2025–26 Chelsea Public Schools calendar: The committee voted to accept the Chelsea Public Schools calendar for the school year 2025–26 by roll call (7 yes, 2 absent). The agenda item did not include details on calendar changes in the transcript excerpt.

• Revise operating protocols (amendment and final approval): Members first voted to amend the proposed operating protocols by removing two bullet items that set a target meeting-length limit (the 2½-hour target and a 20-minute presentation guideline). The amendment passed 7–0 with two absent. The committee then voted to accept the revised operating protocols (with that amendment) by roll call (7–0, 2 absent). Committee members who spoke in favor said the timing guidance had been intended as planning guidance and that removing strict time bullets preserves flexibility for in-depth discussion when needed.

• Approve field trips: The committee approved two out-of-state and one in-state overnight field trip: Blue Hills Reservation overnight April 9–10 for 10 COA students and 3 chaperones; Newport Mansions trip to Newport, R.I., on April 17 for 178 Chelsea High School students and 20 chaperones (Gilded Age research); and June 9 out-of-state trip to Canopy Lake Park in Salem, N.H., for 153 eighth graders and 15 chaperones for an end-of-year engagement experience. The item passed by roll call (7 yes, 2 absent).

Other routine motions — including adoption of minutes from earlier March meetings and acceptance of awards presented during the meeting — were moved and approved or recorded during the session.

Votes recorded in the meeting transcript (roll-call participants listed as present and voting yes) were: Miss Hernandez, Mister O'Regan, Miss Enriquez, Miss Cabral, Miss Balderas, Doctor Neville and Miss Cova Scaraballo; two members were absent for the votes noted above.

Sources: meeting transcript roll-call entries for each agenda item.