Chelsea High outlines random searches, ID rollout and metal‑wand screenings as part of security plan

Chelsea High School officials on April 9 briefed the Chelsea School Committee on new and ongoing security measures at the high school, including random bag searches, metal‑wand screenings, enforcement of a no‑hood or hat policy and a planned student ID rollout for next school year.

The presentation and question‑and‑answer session drew committee members, district staff and students as interim principal Alan Beaucelet and district director of security Frank Henry explained operational details and how the school is communicating the changes to families.

Beaucelet, interim principal at Chelsea High School, said the school has expanded its security staff in recent years and plans to keep current staffing next year. "We've increased over the last couple years to about 15 security staff at Chelsea High School and we're looking to retain that number for next year," he said. He told the committee the school also continues to work with central office staff including Malak Haushen, Felicia Paisley and Christine Lee on the effort.

On screening procedures, Beaucelet explained how the school selects students for searches. He said staff working the entry doors are instructed to pick a number and then select that numbered student — for example, "every fifth person" — so picks are systematic rather than based on appearance. School staff said the current practice uses a counting method for bag checks and metal‑wand screenings; staff gave the example that the school currently counts students and selects, for example, every third student for a bag check and every fifth student for a wand screening.

The committee heard that the metal‑wand screenings were a recent addition. When asked how long the wand screenings had been in place, Beaucelet said, "About 2 weeks ago." He described the on‑entry process: school doors open at 7:30 a.m., students may go to the cafeteria or library and class begins at 8:00 a.m.; students who arrive after 8:00 a.m. go through a tardy line that runs until about 8:45 a.m. and are entered into the Aspen system for verification.

Beaucelet also described a reinforced dress code: "Students are asked to either take off their hoods or a hat with a brim because you cannot see their face," he said, adding that messaging is being sent to families via ParentSquare, the CHS weekly newsletter and student email. He said the school is planning a full ID picture and card rollout for next year so that staff can rapidly identify students.

On phones, Beaucelet noted the committee passed a policy in December 2024 that prohibits cell‑phone use during the school day; he said Chelsea High is still finalizing an implementation plan and has a staff committee working on communications for fall 2025.

Frank Henry, director of security, and Beaucelet described coordination with the Chelsea Police Department. The committee was told Officer Garrison Daniels serves as the school resource officer assigned to Chelsea High School and supports outreach and emergency response.

School Committee member Jonathan Gomez Pereira submitted a written statement to the committee and asked that the district avoid policies that "hyper criminalize" students. In his statement he wrote: "Throughout the duration of that half an hour meeting, no student mentioned that they would feel safer with the implementation of metal detectors." He urged the committee to pursue data‑driven responses that center student safety without increasing criminalization.

Beaucelet said the district will continue to gather student feedback. He noted two near‑term opportunities for student voice: a student summit held as part of the Barr Foundation work, where roughly 20 students will share perspectives, and the Panorama spring survey, which the administration will use to collect broader feedback.

The presentation closed with committee members asking staff to keep communications clear to families and to continue efforts to limit incidents while protecting students' privacy and dignity. The district said it will continue coordination with CPD and share updates with the committee as plans develop.