Metropolis, DCPS publicizes partnership with firm specializing in security doors, glass

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Town of Jacksonville and Duval County college district on Wednesday announced a new plan to keep youngsters safe within the classroom.

The varsity district hired a New York company named Armoured One, which focuses on doors and glass and claims it might decelerate or forestall a shooter from getting into a classroom.

These are crucial factors after police in Texas decided the door accessed by the gunman at Robb Elementary College in Uvalde was closed but not locked. Initially, state police said a teacher left the door propped open. Investigators concluded the instructor really closed the door, however it didn’t lock routinely like it was speculated to. The gunman shot and killed 19 college students and two teachers before he was killed by regulation enforcement.

Armoured One, which was founded after the Sandy Hook Elementary College capturing, is made up of former army and regulation enforcement brokers who study mass taking pictures attacks and seek the advice of on school safety measures.

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“We are going to first work collaboratively to establish the place Armoured One assets can finest compliment the coaching already supplied, including their assets to the training instruments and resources the district already makes use of,” Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry said Wednesday afternoon at a news convention at City Hall to announce the partnership.

Press the play button straight beneath to observe all the news convention.

The security glass and film that Armoured One invented can face up to a number of hits -- whether or not that’s bullets, somebody ramming into the glass or using different objects or weapons -- without breaking, which might gradual an attacker. The doors it uses have metal framing, latch bolts and deadbolts.

Armoured One can also be known for offering active shooter coaching and assessments. The corporate issues particular person reviews for each constructing and recommends the most effective tools to use for each facility it’s working with.

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Curry stated he plans to seek out the funding for that coaching but also work with the company to carry out college safety assessments. Armoured One CEO Tom Czyz mentioned his crew knows what to look for when it assesses a faculty’s vulnerability.

“They’re looking at methods to decelerate an attacker and speed up police response,” Czyz said. “How will we sluggish him down -- after which speed up the response that will cease him.”

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

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

Burton said, “I'd say the one phrase that summarizes the whole lot that we do is vigilance.”

Greene said that the district’s greatest protection is its college students and employees. She stated she continues to encourage the college 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 continues to be being worked out.

Duval County voters permitted a half-cent sales tax in November 2020 with the particular function of replacing ageing schools, repairing a large backlog of upkeep points, and bolstering faculty safety.

Right now, 74 projects are within the design part and 15 are below construction.

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 beneath construction.

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

Extra information about how that cash is planned to be spent in particular person faculties might be discovered on the varsity district’s half-cent sales tax info dashboard.

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The next record of security measures is published on the school district’s web site:

Every school has a safety plan and emergency response team.

All college classrooms are locked when occupied by students.

Faculty plans are reviewed with employees each semester.

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

The district utilizes varied major safety monitoring methods including camera surveillance and monitored managed entry programs.

All colleges and district places of work have a District Emergency Communications Network radio with direct access to high school police and district leadership. School Police have direct access to JSO.

All colleges conduct common evacuation drills (fireplace drills).

All faculties conduct regular emergency and lockdown (“code purple” and “code yellow”) drills.

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