EVSC initiating $215K district-wide safety audit

WNIN | By Tim Jagielo

Published December 16, 2025 at 5:37 PM CST

Students and staff of Central High School in Evansville exit the building after school on Tuesday, December 16. All 40 EVSC buildings and their policies will be analyzed for safety and security. This is following a school board decision to retain an advisory firm to complete the first security assessment since 2008.

The Evansville Vanderburgh School Corporation approved undergoing a comprehensive security assessment of all 40 school buildings, policies, personnel and crisis procedures

Evansville Vanderburgh School Corporation Public Safety Officer Nick Sandullo is moving street barricades before Central High School, ahead of school letting out Tuesday afternoon.

“Because parents were lining up, and buses couldn’t get through,” he said as he dragged the bright yellow barriers.

Central High School, like every building, remains locked with a buzz-in system.

But soon, every building in the district will be assessed for safety and security. On Monday night, the EVSC board approved undergoing a comprehensive security assessment to the tune of $215,000. This is the first district-wide study since 2008.

There was an assessment 17 years ago but it only studied the entry points into buildings.

Prior to Tuesday Dec. 16 dismissal, EVSC Public Safety Officer Nick Sandullo moves traffic barricades to allow busses through.

The district said this audit will be fully comprehensive — covering everything from personnel, to safety policies and security features, and provide a report with suggestions in the end.

EVSC Board Trustee Joe Kiefer said the goal of the study is to mitigate something from happening.

“We always think about maybe the worst case scenario — we can stop it here, to where it never gets to that worst case scenario, and then if it does get to a really bad situation, we know how to respond quickly afterwards to try to mitigate any additional damage. So I think that's really one of the values of doing a very comprehensive study.”

There have been more than one dozen mass school shootings across the country in December alone, according to the Gun Violence Archive.

EVSC has hired firm National School Safety and Security Services. They will start by learning about the district — personal, policies, protocols and safety drill plans.

It will include a pre-assessment, review of security and emergency preparedness policies and crisis plans, physical security features and documents on site, interviews and a final report with recommendations with evidence-based best practices.

Board Trustee Amy DeVries said she appreciates the methodical approach to the study.

“We can say, without hesitation, that we have taken a look and brought in the best experts so that we can make sure that our students and teachers and staff are safe when they're in our buildings.”

The report should take about 15 days to finish, covering all 40 EVSC school buildings.

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Nearly 1,130 students attend Central High School in Evansville. Here, students exit after school, Tuesday Dec. 16.