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

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Town of Jacksonville and Duval County college district on Wednesday introduced a new plan to maintain youngsters secure in the classroom.

The college district hired a New York firm named Armoured One, which specializes in doors and glass and claims it could actually decelerate or prevent a shooter from getting right into a classroom.

Those are essential components 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 stated a teacher left the door propped open. Investigators concluded the teacher truly closed the door, nevertheless it didn’t lock robotically like it was purported to. The gunman shot and killed 19 college students and two teachers earlier than he was killed by regulation enforcement.

Armoured One, which was founded after the Sandy Hook Elementary College capturing, is made up of former navy and legislation enforcement agents who examine mass capturing assaults and consult on school security measures.

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“We will first work collaboratively to establish where Armoured One assets can greatest compliment the training already supplied, including their sources to the training instruments and assets the district already makes use of,” Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry said Wednesday afternoon at a news conference at City Corridor to announce the partnership.

Press the play button straight below to watch all the news convention.

The security glass and film that Armoured One invented can withstand a number of hits -- whether that’s bullets, somebody ramming into the glass or utilizing other objects or weapons -- without breaking, which may sluggish an attacker. The doors it makes use of have metallic framing, latch bolts and deadbolts.

Armoured One can be recognized for offering active shooter training and assessments. The corporate points individual studies for every constructing and recommends the very best tools to make use of for every facility it’s working with.

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Curry mentioned he plans to find the funding for that coaching but additionally work with the corporate to carry out college safety assessments. Armoured One CEO Tom Czyz stated his workforce is aware of what to look for when it assesses a school’s vulnerability.

“They’re taking a look at ways to slow down an attacker and velocity up police response,” Czyz stated. “How will we gradual him down -- and then speed up the response that will stop him.”

Duval County Public Colleges Superintendent Dr. Diana Greene and Duval County College Police Division Chief Greg Burton say safety and security are top of thoughts daily.

What I need to be frequent is that our families know that we're ready each and every day. And that’s what we work in direction of being a better school district because it relates to safety and safety,” Green mentioned.

Burton mentioned, “I'd say the one phrase that summarizes all the things that we do is vigilance.”

Greene mentioned that the district’s greatest protection is its college students and staff. She stated she continues to encourage the college community to report anything they see that’s suspicious.

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As far as the fee, it’s unclear right now, because the partnership continues to be being worked out.

Duval County voters accepted a half-cent gross sales tax in November 2020 with the specific goal of changing ageing faculties, repairing a large backlog of maintenance issues, and bolstering school safety.

Right now, 74 tasks are in the design section and 15 are beneath building.

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

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

More information about how that money is planned to be spent in individual faculties could be discovered on the college district’s half-cent sales tax information dashboard.

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The following listing of security measures is published on the varsity district’s web site:

Every school has a security plan and emergency response group.

All college classrooms are locked when occupied by students.

Faculty plans are reviewed with workers every semester.

The district has a highly educated college police department, giving all faculties direct entry to school useful resource officers.

The district makes use of varied main safety monitoring methods together with digicam surveillance and monitored controlled entry methods.

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

All faculties conduct regular evacuation drills (hearth drills).

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

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