City, DCPS proclaims partnership with company specializing in security doors, glass

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The town of Jacksonville and Duval County school district on Wednesday announced a brand new plan to keep kids protected in the classroom.

The school district employed a New York firm named Armoured One, which focuses on doors and glass and claims it will probably slow down or stop a shooter from getting into a classroom.

Those are crucial components after police in Texas decided the door accessed by the gunman at Robb Elementary Faculty in Uvalde was closed but not locked. Initially, state police stated a instructor left the door propped open. Investigators concluded the trainer actually closed the door, nevertheless it didn’t lock robotically like it was speculated to. The gunman shot and killed 19 college students and two lecturers earlier than he was killed by law enforcement.

Armoured One, which was based after the Sandy Hook Elementary School capturing, is made up of former navy and regulation enforcement agents who research mass taking pictures attacks and consult on school safety measures.

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“We are going to first work collaboratively to determine the place Armoured One sources can finest compliment the training already provided, adding their assets to the coaching tools and sources the district already uses,” Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry mentioned Wednesday afternoon at a information conference at City Hall to announce the partnership.

Press the play button directly beneath to look at 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 could gradual an attacker. The doors it uses have metal framing, latch bolts and deadbolts.

Armoured One can also be recognized for providing active shooter coaching and assessments. The company points individual reviews for each constructing and recommends the very best gear to make use of for each facility it’s working with.

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Curry stated he plans to search out the funding for that coaching but in addition work with the corporate to perform college safety assessments. Armoured One CEO Tom Czyz mentioned his team knows what to search for when it assesses a school’s vulnerability.

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

Duval County Public Colleges Superintendent Dr. Diana Greene and Duval County Faculty Police Department Chief Greg Burton say safety and security are prime of mind daily.

What I need to be common is that our households know that we're ready each and every day. And that’s what we work in direction of being a greater school district as it pertains to safety and security,” Green said.

Burton mentioned, “I would say the one word that summarizes every thing that we do is vigilance.”

Greene said that the district’s best protection is its college students and employees. She said she continues to encourage the varsity neighborhood to report anything they see that’s suspicious.

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So far as the fee, it’s unclear right now, because the partnership is still being labored out.

Duval County voters authorized a half-cent sales tax in November 2020 with the precise function of replacing growing older schools, repairing a massive backlog of upkeep points, and bolstering school safety.

Right now, 74 tasks are in the design phase and 15 are below building.

As of January 2022, the tax has generated more than $118 million dollars, with greater than $5.7 million already spent or allotted to projects underneath construction.

Over its 15-year life, the sales tax is projected to generate $64.9 million for the precise function of upgrading faculty safety in DCPS faculties.

More details about how that money is deliberate to be spent in individual colleges can be found on the college district’s half-cent gross sales tax data dashboard.

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The following list of safety measures is published on the college district’s web site:

Every faculty has a safety plan and emergency response group.

All faculty classrooms are locked when occupied by college students.

College plans are reviewed with workers every semester.

The district has a highly educated faculty police division, giving all faculties direct entry to highschool resource officers.

The district utilizes various main safety monitoring strategies including camera surveillance and monitored controlled access programs.

All schools and district workplaces have a District Emergency Communications Network radio with direct access to school police and district management. College Police have direct access to JSO.

All schools conduct regular evacuation drills (fireplace drills).

All schools conduct common emergency and lockdown (“code pink” and “code yellow”) drills.

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