The Select Board on Tuesday discussed a review of the town’s emergency preparedness strategy with public safety leaders and the school superintendent.

“I think it’s important that we’re all on the same page here,” said chair Joe Clark. “For me, this is just really important because it’s regarding the safety of our residents and especially our schools.”

While the chair said he considers Hopkinton to be a safe town, “We can always do better.”

Superintendent Evan Bishop said he has a good working relationship with the police and fire departments.

“We want to always continue to refine and strengthen out systems,” he said, noting that he would be amenable to an audit.

Fire Chief Gary Daugherty also supported an independent audit.

“I feel like an outside perspective just strengthens our capability and enhances the services that we can provide to the community,” he said.

“I did like the way you started it off,” Daugherty told Clark. “This is more of a way that we can improve services, not a criticism towards any of the town departments.”

Police Chief Joseph Bennett noted that the three of them have spoken about the audit and, “We’re actually really looking forward to this.”

He added that there may be technology or training gaps that an audit could highlight.

Clark added that an audit can show positives and “then figure out how to take it to the next level.”

Member Amy Ritterbusch said she believed two areas of focus should be the Eversource LNG plant and the school area. She noted that the under-construction Charleswood School will abut Marathon School and be down the street from the high school/middle school/Hopkins School complex.

“That’s a lot of children if there was a natural disaster or a shooting,” she stressed. “How would we manage all that?”

Vice chair Shahidul Mannan noted that he had spoken about hiring a consultant after the 2024 swatting incident at the high school.

Communication between the first responders and the schools is one of his primary concerns, he added. Coordinating with residents, parents and potentially “larger national security forces” is an issue where he would like more clarity.

Daugherty pointed out that last year, leaders did a townwide tabletop disaster exercise focusing on what to do in the event of a natural disaster at a school. Another tabletop exercise on the Boston Marathon is in the works. They also formed a partnership with Massachusetts Maritime Academy.

Bishop mentioned working with the “I Love U Guys” Foundation. This program focuses on crisis response and post-crisis reunification. It currently serves more than 78,000 schools, districts, departments, agencies, organizations and communities around the world, according to its website.

HPD communications director Meaghan DeRaad said that work has been done “in the background” on this subject. She called the audit “a great idea to get an outsider’s opinion on how we’re doing.”

HPD Deputy Chief Scott van Raalten suggested doing a “deep dive” into individual policies.  He also said that trainings should be in line with best practices both statewide and nationwide. “Real-life examples” should focus on situations unique to Hopkinton.

HPD Lt. Matt McNeil announced that the department just received full accreditation from the Massachusetts Police Accreditation Commission. Over the past year, he has been reviewing more than 120 of the police department’s policies. Working collaboratively helps to augment these policies, he noted.

Town Manager Elaine Lazarus said she will consolidate this information to use in a request for proposals for consultants.

“I really believe this is going to be a very positive thing,” said Clark. “It’s going to show a lot of the success that you guys are doing behind the scenes. Anywhere else where we can do additional good, it’s only a benefit.”