Chelsea — Chelsea High School will be closing next school year. Residents today reaffirmed an earlier school district merger with Tunbridge on a 183-132 vote.

The merger to create the First Branch Unified School District passed in Chelsea in November on a 197-110 vote, and in Tunbridge, 207-61.

But a petition initiated by a couple of Chelsea High School students and signed by 48 residents prompted today’s revote in Chelsea.

Under the merger, Chelsea High School will close at the end of this school year, and each town will operate K-8 schools while also exploring a merged middle school program. High school students would be tuitioned out from both towns, as is already the case in Tunbridge.