Metropolis, DCPS proclaims partnership with firm specializing in safety doorways, glass

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Town of Jacksonville and Duval County college district on Wednesday introduced a brand new plan to keep kids protected within the classroom.

The school district employed a New York company named Armoured One, which specializes in doorways and glass and claims it could decelerate or stop a shooter from getting right into a classroom.

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

Armoured One, which was founded after the Sandy Hook Elementary Faculty capturing, is made up of former army and legislation enforcement brokers who research mass taking pictures attacks and seek the advice of on college security measures.

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“We'll first work collaboratively to identify where Armoured One assets can finest praise the coaching already offered, adding their assets to the training instruments and assets the district already makes use of,” Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry mentioned Wednesday afternoon at a news convention at Metropolis Hall to announce the partnership.

Press the play button directly below to watch the whole news conference.

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

Armoured One can also be known for providing energetic shooter training and assessments. The company issues particular person studies for each constructing and recommends the best tools to make use of for every facility it’s working with.

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Curry stated he plans to search out the funding for that training but also work with the corporate to perform school security assessments. Armoured One CEO Tom Czyz stated his crew knows what to search 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 said. “How do we sluggish him down -- and then pace up the response that might cease him.”

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

What I need to be frequent is that our families know that we are prepared each and every day. And that’s what we work towards being a greater school district because it pertains to security and security,” Green mentioned.

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

Greene mentioned that the district’s finest protection is its students and employees. She mentioned she continues to encourage the school community to report anything they see that’s suspicious.

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As far as the associated fee, it’s unclear proper now, as the partnership is still being worked out.

Duval County voters accepted a half-cent gross sales tax in November 2020 with the precise function of changing growing older colleges, repairing a large backlog of upkeep points, and bolstering college safety.

Proper now, 74 initiatives are in the design section and 15 are beneath development.

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 underneath development.

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

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

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The next listing of security measures is revealed on the varsity district’s web site:

Every faculty has a safety plan and emergency response group.

All college lecture rooms are locked when occupied by students.

School plans are reviewed with employees every semester.

The district has a extremely trained school police department, giving all schools direct access to school resource officers.

The district makes use of various main security monitoring methods together with camera surveillance and monitored controlled entry systems.

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

All colleges conduct common evacuation drills (fire drills).

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

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