Chelsea Public Schools outlines security changes at Chelsea High; students and committee raise concerns about searches
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Summary
Assistant Superintendent Michelle Martinello told the school committee Chelsea High now uses 15 trained security guards, a school resource officer, random searches and Yonder pouches for cell phones; survey results on metal detectors were mixed and committee members asked about grievance procedures and operational delays at arrival.
Assistant Superintendent Michelle Martinello told the Chelsea School Committee the district is reinforcing safety at Chelsea High School with 15 safety-care–trained security guards, a school resource officer and operational changes designed to reduce in‑building incidents.
"We currently have a total of 15 security guards," Martinello said, adding that guards are CPR certified and receive sensitivity training from the district’s director of social work. She described a series of operational steps now in place: student IDs, Yonder pouches for phones and personal tech, random searches selected by a random-number process, and the use of wands. Martinello asked principals to keep a log of items recovered; she said the most common item pulled this year has been cell phones.
Dr. Abeyta summarized a community survey about school security, saying roughly 200 respondents answered questions about measures including metal detectors. "Responses were strongly divided," Abeyta said, and the district took away that community sentiment on metal detectors is inconclusive.
Committee members and students pressed for details. A committee member noted that students who attended a youth listening session reported feeling targeted by searches; Martinello said there is no formal grievance process but encouraged students to raise concerns with principals, social workers or district staff and said the superintendent’s advisory council is a venue for student feedback. The committee discussed operational adjustments to speed entry after Yonder pouches were introduced — for example, deploying additional unlocking stations and moving portable unlocking devices to better locations, steps Martinello said the district is trying.
Student representatives described improved hallway culture and more face‑to‑face interaction since the phone policy’s start. "I've really seen a huge positive change with the no phone policy," one student said, citing more interaction in commons areas and libraries.
The committee asked for follow‑up data on search logs and precise comparisons of mobility and attendance trends; Dr. Blake Canty agreed to provide trend comparisons for the committee. The presentation closed with committee members and staff agreeing to monitor the operational rollout and student feedback.
The presentation did not result in a policy vote; the committee asked staff to report back with logs and comparative trend data.
