School Committee approves grants, budget transfers, hygiene gifts and bullying policy; authorizes special-education prepayment

The Chelsea School Committee on June 4 approved a consent package of grants, gifts and budget adjustments, authorized a special-education prepayment, and adopted the district bullying policy and the 2025–26 student handbooks.

The committee approved acceptance of multiple private and public grants and gifts, including: $5,000 from the Boston University Consortium Council; $23,630 from the “1 8 Foundation” to support civic engagement at the middle schools over three years; $70,800 from the 1 8 Foundation for the Investigating History program over three years; $106,500 from the 1 8 Foundation for middle-school Open Sci Ed over three years; $3,913.28 from the University of Massachusetts for SNAP outreach; $52,700 from the Hestia/ SDF fund to support Boston Children’s Choir after‑school programming and related student navigation supports; gift cards worth $600 from the Sonta Club of Chelsea; and hygiene products valued at $66,516 donated by Hope and Comfort for districtwide students. All of those items were approved by roll call: eight affirmative, one absent.

The committee also authorized a prepayment of up to $2,500,000 for special-education out‑of‑district tuition for fiscal year 2025–26 and approved a multi‑departmental year‑end budget transfer of $4,080,642.31 to reallocate funds across district accounts. The consent agenda included approval of an overnight out‑of‑state field trip for one Chelsea High School student athlete and two chaperones to attend the Nike Outdoor Nationals at Hayward Field in Eugene/Hayward Field, Oregon, June 18–20; that trip was approved as part of the packet and by roll call.

Superintendent Dr. Abeyta presented and staff answered brief questions from committee members before the roll calls. A committee member asked for clarification about the $52,700 Hestia/SDF item; staff said the funds support the Boston Children’s Choir after‑school program and an individual student success/navigation component. A committee member asked whether the district would be able to continue prepayment practice in future years; staff said that depends on future budgets and federal funding.

Later in the meeting, the committee voted to accept and adopt the district bullying policy and plan for 2025–26 (mover recorded in the meeting: Dr. Neville) and separately voted to accept and adopt the district student handbooks for 2025–26 (mover recorded in the meeting: Dr. Navarro). Both motions passed on voice or roll call with the same affirmative quorum noted earlier: eight in favor, one absent.

Votes at a glance - Acceptance of grants and gifts (listed above): approved by roll call, 8–0 (1 absent). - Authorization to prepay up to $2,500,000 in special‑education out‑of‑district tuition for FY 2025–26: approved by roll call, 8–0 (1 absent). - Multi‑departmental budget transfer, $4,080,642.31 (year‑end cleanup): approved by roll call, 8–0 (1 absent). - Overnight out‑of‑state field trip (Nike Outdoor Nationals): approved by roll call, 8–0 (1 absent). - Adoption of district bullying policy and plan (2025–26): motion by Dr. Neville; approved, 8–0 (1 absent). - Adoption of district student handbooks (2025–26): motion by Dr. Navarro; approved, 8–0 (1 absent).

The meeting record shows the roll calls by name for members who answered during votes: Miss Hernandez (yes), Mr. O'Regan (yes), Miss Enriquez (yes), Mr. Gomez Pereira (yes), Miss Balderas (yes), Dr. Neville (yes), Miss Coves Caraballo (yes), Miss Alfaro (yes). The record does not specify which committee member was absent at the time of the votes.

The committee did not change programmatic details in these motions; where members requested clarification (for example, the Hestia/SDF use and the sustainability of prepayment), staff provided verbal explanations but no additional formal conditions were recorded.

Ending notes: The approvals clear funding and administrative housekeeping ahead of summer and the 2025–26 school year. Committee members said they will monitor budget and federal funding questions that could affect the district’s ability to authorize similar prepayments in future years.