Parents press Lowell council for tighter security after off‑campus attack; city and schools promise review

A Lowell mother urged the city council on Oct. 28 to act after her child was injured in an off‑campus assault in early October, telling the council she and other families worry students are not safe and asking the district to "review and implement more security at the main entrances of Lowell High School." The petitioner, Felicita Espinal, also recounted a family history of bullying and a son who required inpatient psychiatric care after repeated harassment.

"I respectfully request that the school committee review and implement more security at the main entrances of Lowell High," Espinal said, describing visible injuries sustained by another parent's child and asking for improved supervision during arrival and dismissal times.

Councilors and staff responded by describing existing and planned steps. Council members noted the school committee had previously commissioned a safety audit; City and school officials said the audit has been completed and that the school committee recently approved two additional security officers for Lowell High. Assistant city management and police leadership told the council they would convene a meeting with the city manager, the police chief and school leadership to develop follow‑up steps starting the next day.

Councilor Guccio (chair of the city council and school committee) said security audits had been under discussion and indicated the issue falls first to the school committee, but he also asked the city manager and chief to follow up. Chief Hudon told the council that the city does utilize school resource officers (SROs) and that the department would support the planned meeting.

Several councilors described the concern as urgent and pledged to track the response. "We didn't spend $400,000,000 so students have to worry about protecting themselves rather than their education," one councilor said during discussion.

What happens next: the city manager said he would set up a meeting with the police chief and school administration to "quell the situation," and council members requested that the manager report back at a future meeting on specific security protocols and any further actions the council should consider.

Note on sourcing: direct quotes and details above are drawn from petitioner remarks and council responses recorded in the council transcript; numeric values about the school renovation and staffing changes were reported by councilors and managers during the hearing.