Auditor General DePasquale Praises Passage of School Safety Bill

July 03 2013

Auditor General DePasquale Praises Passage of School Safety Bill

HARRISBURG (July 3, 2013) – Auditor General Eugene DePasquale today said passage of Senate Bill 10, which provides $8.5 million in funding to prevent school violence, will help schools and the state work together to protect children, teachers and staff.

“There are few things more worthy of state investment than the safety of our children and our schools,” DePasquale said. “No child, family or community should ever suffer again from the horrific incidents that we have experienced in many parts of this country.  Schools must be safe havens for our children where they can learn without fear.”

Senate Bill 10 will fund programs to improve school emergency preparedness plans; conduct school emergency preparedness drills; and establish or enhance school security personnel, including school resource or police officers.

“Senate Bill 10 is a good start,” DePasquale said. “However, we must keep school safety on the top of our list of priorities and continue to look for ways to provide even safer learning environments for our children.”

In March, DePasquale testified before the joint Senate Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness and Education Committees on the need to strengthen school violence prevention efforts.

Safety audits are part of routine school audits conducted by the Department of the Auditor General approximately every three years. Auditors review basic physical elements — such as locked doors and windows and controlled points of entry and exit — as well as other items including the district's emergency plan, emergency responder involvement, bullying policies, visitation policies, and appropriate Internet filters.

The three major areas consistently identified for needing improvement during initial school safety audits are: planning, training and physical security.  Among the most common findings are incomplete, underdeveloped and untested crisis plans or emergency response procedures.

“Our audits are making a difference,” DePasquale said in his March testimony. “For the most part, on follow-up reviews, the schools have implemented our recommendations. Still, we are constantly looking for ways to improve the process and help provide even greater safety for school students, teachers and staff.”

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