​Auditor General Eugene DePasquale, '89 Visits Central Catholic for Prayer Service, Safety Discussion

On Wednesday, March 14, 2018, Auditor General Eugene DePasquale, ’89, visited Central Catholic High School in Pittsburgh, Pa. to participate in a school-wide prayer service in remembrance of the victims of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting in February.

Following the prayer service, DePasquale met with a cross-section of students to discuss school safety and audit reviews. DePasquale’s visit to Central Catholic is in line with a recent update to the public school audit process, in which DePasquale intends to immediately add school safety objectives to all school audits and reviews, and to expand the distribution of confidential school safety audits and results to include the Pennsylvania State Police, Attorney General and local police departments. The school audit process has included a school safety component since 2006.

“it was great to be back at Central and I am so proud of the students for their leadership and for the school for really embracing what the students are feeling as a nationwide teen community,” said DePasquale. “They are making it clear that they want to feel safe in school and I am so appreciative of Central’s leadership in these efforts.”

Security and safety at Central Catholic is a top priority. Four years ago, Central Catholic partnered with security consultant Richard Mader to conduct a security and safety audit in conjunction with the Diocese of Pittsburgh and Zone 4 Police.

The most prevalent security updates to come from this audit were the introductions of BluePoint Security Systems and NightLock. Central Catholic installed both systems during the 2017 Christmas break and the BluePoint system will become active in April.

BluePoint looks and works like a fire alarm pull box and the boxes have been strategically placed in key areas throughout campus. When pulled, an announcement is made for the school to go into full lockdown and the police are automatically called, saving critical amounts of time in an emergency. Central Catholic is the first high school in the Pittsburgh area to install this system. NightLock is a physical device that prevents entry into a classroom even if a door is unlocked.

“We are thrilled that Auditor General Eugene DePasquale, '89, joined us in prayer and has chosen his alma mater as one of his first stops in his school safety reviews,” said Brother Anthony Baginski, FSC, Principal. “With the addition of BluePoint, NightLock and faculty, staff and student safety training, Central Catholic continues to show its commitment to student safety and we pride ourselves on building a safe, supportive community for all of our students.”