Metropolis, DCPS announces partnership with company specializing in security doorways, glass

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Town of Jacksonville and Duval County school district on Wednesday announced a brand new plan to keep children secure in the classroom.

The school district hired a New York company named Armoured One, which makes a speciality of doors and glass and claims it will possibly slow down or forestall a shooter from getting into a classroom.

These are essential elements after police in Texas determined the door accessed by the gunman at Robb Elementary College in Uvalde was closed however not locked. Initially, state police mentioned a teacher left the door propped open. Investigators concluded the teacher truly closed the door, however it didn’t lock robotically like it was presupposed to. The gunman shot and killed 19 college students and two teachers earlier than he was killed by law enforcement.

Armoured One, which was founded after the Sandy Hook Elementary School capturing, is made up of former navy and law enforcement agents who examine mass taking pictures assaults and seek the advice of on school safety measures.

Ad

“We will first work collaboratively to identify where Armoured One sources can greatest praise the coaching already offered, including their assets to the coaching instruments and assets the district already makes use of,” Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry stated Wednesday afternoon at a information conference at City Corridor to announce the partnership.

Press the play button directly beneath to observe your complete information convention.

The security glass and film that Armoured One invented can withstand several hits -- whether or not that’s bullets, someone ramming into the glass or using other objects or weapons -- with out breaking, which might gradual an attacker. The doorways it makes use of have metallic framing, latch bolts and deadbolts.

Armoured One is also known for offering lively shooter coaching and assessments. The corporate points individual reviews for every building and recommends the perfect tools to use for each facility it’s working with.

Ad

Curry mentioned he plans to seek out the funding for that training but additionally work with the company to carry out faculty safety assessments. Armoured One CEO Tom Czyz said his group knows what to search for when it assesses a school’s vulnerability.

“They’re taking a look at methods to decelerate an attacker and velocity up police response,” Czyz stated. “How can we slow him down -- after which velocity up the response that may cease him.”

Duval County Public Colleges Superintendent Dr. Diana Greene and Duval County Faculty Police Division Chief Greg Burton say security and safety are top of mind each day.

What I wish to be common is that our households know that we're prepared every day. And that’s what we work in the direction of being a better college district as it pertains to security and security,” Inexperienced said.

Burton stated, “I might say the one word that summarizes every little thing that we do is vigilance.”

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

Advert

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

Duval County voters permitted a half-cent sales tax in November 2020 with the particular function of changing ageing colleges, repairing a massive backlog of maintenance issues, and bolstering faculty safety.

Right now, 74 initiatives are within the design part and 15 are under development.

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

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

More details about how that cash is deliberate to be spent in individual faculties could be discovered on the varsity district’s half-cent sales tax data dashboard.

Ad

The following record of safety measures is printed on the school district’s website:

Each college has a security plan and emergency response group.

All faculty lecture rooms are locked when occupied by college students.

School plans are reviewed with workers each semester.

The district has a extremely educated school police department, giving all faculties direct access to highschool resource officers.

The district makes use of varied major security monitoring strategies together with digital camera surveillance and monitored managed access methods.

All colleges and district places of work have a District Emergency Communications Community radio with direct entry to highschool police and district management. Faculty Police have direct entry to JSO.

All colleges conduct regular evacuation drills (fireplace drills).

All faculties conduct common emergency and lockdown (“code crimson” and “code yellow”) drills.

Copyright 2022 by WJXT News4JAX - All rights reserved.