Lieutenant Jeffrey Howe told the Fitchburg School Committee on Nov. 4 that police and school staff acted quickly and professionally when responding to a stabbing at Goodrich Academy last week.

“I can honestly say I was impressed with what I saw her do,” Howe said, describing Principal Jen Fisher’s direction of staff during the lockdown, the discovery of a victim with a stab wound and the apprehension of an accused person.

Howe, who identified himself as the lieutenant who oversees school resource officers, said officers entered the school immediately, put the building into lockdown and coordinated closely with administrators and the superintendent. He said staff displayed compassion while consoling students during a stressful period.

A separate school resource officer who also responded described the scene as “complete professionalism” and urged school committee members to visit the building to reassure students and staff. The officer — who identified himself as the school resource officer at Fitchburg High School and Goodrich — said social‑media commentary had been unhelpful and called for the community to support the team already in place.

The meeting also included details on SRO staffing. Committee members and police representatives said Officer Figueroa, formerly assigned to Memorial Middle School, has moved within the department to a role focused on mental‑health and substance‑abuse work, and Officer Ishmael Sanchez — described by police as bilingual with roughly five years’ service — will serve as the new Memorial Middle School SRO.

The School Committee did not take formal action on school safety at the meeting; it heard public comment and police testimony, then proceeded with other agenda items.

The committee later entered an executive session on contract negotiations and did not return to public session.