The Lowell School Committee on Sept. 17 voted to send a motion seeking an outside safety and security audit to a subcommittee for further review, following debate about whether the district’s police and in‑house staff already provide sufficient safety oversight.

The motion, introduced by School Committee member Michael Conway to “develop an RFP and identify outside school security company, subject matter experts for the purpose of conducting a total safety and security assessment of Lowell Public School system,” was seconded by School Committee member Martin. After extended discussion the committee voted to refer the request to a facilities subcommittee for a deeper review.

Committee member Michael Conway said the motion was urgent, arguing the district should be proactive: “This happens to be the most important motion that I have ever brought forward,” and that an audit could “greatly help make our schools a safer environment for I believe we have over 15,000 students and 3,000 staff members.”

The superintendent disputed the need for an outside audit. “I spoke then and said I don't think it was warranted and I believe it was not warranted, and it's not warranted now,” the superintendent said, adding that the police “do not indicate that they do not have this expertise to deal with our schools.”

Committee members said they want a fuller briefing on existing emergency plans and communications systems before deciding whether to hire outside consultants. One member asked for the district safety officer to present the existing crisis communications and response procedures to the full committee or to the subcommittee. The superintendent said school crisis plans are refreshed each fall and are stored centrally and at each school.

After discussion about costs and past audits in other districts, the committee approved a motion to refer the proposal to a facilities subcommittee, where the administration will present current practices and the safety officer will walk members through crisis and communications procedures.

The referral means the committee did not order an immediate outside audit; instead members asked for more detailed information and a targeted subcommittee review before deciding whether to issue an RFP.