Erin Wilson, a second‑year teacher at the Bartlett School, told the Lowell School Committee on Oct. 1 that students and staff have struggled for months because wheelchair lifts and other accessibility features repeatedly failed. "Why is it that students are the ones who have to be flexible because of the lack of urgency from those in power?" Wilson said during the public‑comment period.

The committee voted to request a report from Superintendent Skinner that explains the reasons for delays in repairing the lifts, identifies which repairs fall under the school department’s responsibility and lists proposed solutions and timelines. School Committee member Miss Daugherty made the motion; Erin Wilson was recorded as the second.

Why it matters: parents and staff said the malfunctioning equipment prevents students who use wheelchairs from accessing classrooms, the cafeteria and the stage for performances. Amanda Satterfield, the Bartlett music teacher, described repeated disruptions to instruction and said one student left the school this year because of access problems. "Constant repairmen in and out of the classroom also proved to be a distraction," Satterfield said.

Committee discussion and administration response: Joanne Downing, a lifelong resident and Bartlett teacher, told the committee lifts had been inoperable "for more than three years" in some cases and that other basic building repairs — stair railings, parking‑lot safety and automatic door openers — remain unaddressed. Superintendent Skinner acknowledged the concerns and told the committee the district will provide a full report. He said major elevator repairs are handled by the city Department of Public Works (DPW) and noted statewide capacity limits: "There are just two companies in the whole state who do the work," he said, explaining that limited vendor capacity can delay repairs.

Clarifying details given at the meeting included that Bartlett had three chairlifts, two were removed over the summer, and one remained in place but intermittent; speakers said lifts had been nonfunctional since 2023 in some cases. Committee members pressed for a clear delineation of responsibilities between the school department and city departments and for a timeline for repairs. Miss Daugherty said the district packet includes a response dated Sept. 25 saying replacement equipment was expected to arrive in "the next three to four weeks."

What the motion does and next steps: the committee’s action is to request and receive a written report from the superintendent detailing the causes of delay, proposed remedies and a recommended timeline; the superintendent said the report will clarify which repairs are DPW responsibilities and which fall to the school department. No construction contract or procurement decision was made at the Oct. 1 meeting. The committee also asked that student testimonials be included in the packet for its next meeting.

Background: speakers referenced the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) when describing accessibility obligations. The superintendent said schools sometimes rely on Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) funding for larger capital projects, which can affect prioritization of work that is eligible for MSBA reimbursement.

The committee did not set a specific deadline at the meeting beyond asking for the report at the next meeting and asked for clarity about parking and drop‑off logistics related to accessibility.