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

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The town of Jacksonville and Duval County faculty district on Wednesday introduced a brand new plan to keep youngsters safe within the classroom.

The varsity district employed a New York firm named Armoured One, which focuses on doors and glass and claims it may well 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 School in Uvalde was closed but not locked. Initially, state police stated a teacher left the door propped open. Investigators concluded the trainer really closed the door, nevertheless it didn’t lock automatically prefer it was purported to. The gunman shot and killed 19 students and two teachers before he was killed by regulation enforcement.

Armoured One, which was based after the Sandy Hook Elementary College taking pictures, is made up of former army and law enforcement agents who research mass taking pictures assaults and consult on school safety measures.

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“We will first work collaboratively to determine the place Armoured One assets can finest praise the coaching already offered, adding their resources to the coaching tools and sources the district already uses,” Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry mentioned Wednesday afternoon at a news conference at Metropolis Corridor to announce the partnership.

Press the play button instantly beneath to watch the whole information convention.

The security glass and film that Armoured One invented can stand up to a number of hits -- whether that’s bullets, someone ramming into the glass or using other objects or weapons -- without breaking, which might slow an attacker. The doors it uses have steel framing, latch bolts and deadbolts.

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

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Curry said he plans to search out the funding for that training but in addition work with the company to carry out college security assessments. Armoured One CEO Tom Czyz stated his crew knows what to search for when it assesses a faculty’s vulnerability.

“They’re methods to slow down an attacker and velocity up police response,” Czyz mentioned. “How will we gradual him down -- and then velocity up the response that would stop him.”

Duval County Public Faculties Superintendent Dr. Diana Greene and Duval County College Police Department Chief Greg Burton say security and safety are high of thoughts each day.

What I want to be frequent is that our families know that we are ready every day. And that’s what we work towards being a greater school district because it pertains to security and security,” Inexperienced said.

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

Greene mentioned that the district’s best defense is its college students and employees. She stated she continues to encourage the school community to report something they see that’s suspicious.

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

Duval County voters approved a half-cent gross sales tax in November 2020 with the precise goal of replacing growing older schools, repairing an enormous backlog of upkeep issues, and bolstering school safety.

Right now, 74 tasks are in the design part and 15 are under building.

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

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

Extra details about how that cash is planned to be spent in particular person schools may be discovered on the college district’s half-cent gross sales tax information dashboard.

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The next record of security measures is printed on the varsity district’s website:

Each school has a safety plan and emergency response staff.

All college school rooms are locked when occupied by students.

College plans are reviewed with workers each semester.

The district has a highly skilled college police department, giving all faculties direct access to high school resource officers.

The district utilizes various main security monitoring methods together with digital camera surveillance and monitored managed access methods.

All colleges and district offices have a District Emergency Communications Community radio with direct access to high school police and district leadership. School Police have direct access to JSO.

All schools conduct common evacuation drills (hearth drills).

All schools conduct regular emergency and lockdown (“code red” and “code yellow”) drills.

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