Metropolis, DCPS declares partnership with firm specializing in security doorways, glass

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The city of Jacksonville and Duval County college district on Wednesday introduced a new plan to maintain kids safe within the classroom.

The varsity district employed a New York firm named Armoured One, which makes a speciality of doorways and glass and claims it might slow down or forestall a shooter from getting right into a classroom.

Those are essential elements after police in Texas decided the door accessed by the gunman at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde was closed however not locked. Originally, state police mentioned a trainer left the door propped open. Investigators concluded the teacher truly closed the door, but it surely didn’t lock robotically like it was imagined to. The gunman shot and killed 19 college students and two lecturers earlier than he was killed by regulation enforcement.

Armoured One, which was based after the Sandy Hook Elementary Faculty taking pictures, is made up of former navy and law enforcement brokers who study mass taking pictures assaults and consult on college safety measures.

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“We will first work collaboratively to establish the place Armoured One assets can best praise the coaching already offered, adding their resources to the coaching tools and assets the district already uses,” Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry stated Wednesday afternoon at a information convention at City Hall to announce the partnership.

Press the play button directly under to observe the complete news conference.

The security glass and movie that Armoured One invented can stand up to several hits -- whether or not that’s bullets, someone ramming into the glass or using other objects or weapons -- without breaking, which might gradual an attacker. The doors it makes use of have steel framing, latch bolts and deadbolts.

Armoured One can be identified for offering active shooter coaching and assessments. The corporate points particular person experiences for each constructing and recommends the perfect gear to make use of for every facility it’s working with.

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Curry said he plans to find the funding for that coaching but also work with the company to carry out faculty security assessments. Armoured One CEO Tom Czyz mentioned his team knows what to look for when it assesses a school’s vulnerability.

“They’re taking a look at methods to slow down an attacker and speed up police response,” Czyz mentioned. “How do we sluggish him down -- after which speed up the response that will cease him.”

Duval County Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Diana Greene and Duval County College Police Department Chief Greg Burton say security and safety are high of mind every single day.

What I want to be frequent is that our households know that we're ready each and every day. And that’s what we work in the direction of being a greater college district as it relates to safety and security,” Green mentioned.

Burton mentioned, “I would say the one phrase that summarizes the whole lot that we do is vigilance.”

Greene mentioned that the district’s best defense is its students and workers. She mentioned she continues to encourage the school community to report something they see that’s suspicious.

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So far as the cost, it’s unclear proper now, because the partnership is still being worked out.

Duval County voters authorized a half-cent gross sales tax in November 2020 with the specific purpose of changing growing older schools, repairing a large backlog of upkeep points, and bolstering college security.

Proper now, 74 projects are in the design phase and 15 are under building.

As of January 2022, the tax has generated greater than $118 million dollars, with more than $5.7 million already spent or allocated to tasks below development.

Over its 15-year life, the gross sales tax is projected to generate $64.9 million for the specific purpose of upgrading faculty safety in DCPS colleges.

More details about how that money is planned to be spent in particular person schools could be found on the varsity district’s half-cent gross sales tax information dashboard.

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The next list of safety measures is revealed on the school district’s website:

Every college has a security plan and emergency response group.

All college school rooms are locked when occupied by college students.

College plans are reviewed with workers each semester.

The district has a extremely trained school police department, giving all faculties direct entry to high school useful resource officers.

The district makes use of varied main safety monitoring strategies together with camera surveillance and monitored controlled entry techniques.

All colleges and district offices have a District Emergency Communications Community radio with direct entry to highschool police and district leadership. Faculty Police have direct entry to JSO.

All colleges conduct common evacuation drills (fireplace drills).

All colleges conduct common emergency and lockdown (“code red” and “code yellow”) drills.

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