Metropolis, DCPS announces partnership with firm specializing in safety doors, glass

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The town of Jacksonville and Duval County school district on Wednesday introduced a new plan to maintain children secure within the classroom.

The school district employed a New York firm named Armoured One, which specializes in doors and glass and claims it could actually slow down or prevent 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 Faculty in Uvalde was closed however not locked. Originally, state police stated a teacher left the door propped open. Investigators concluded the trainer truly closed the door, but it surely didn’t lock mechanically like it was supposed to. The gunman shot and killed 19 college students and two teachers earlier than he was killed by legislation enforcement.

Armoured One, which was founded after the Sandy Hook Elementary College shooting, is made up of former army and regulation enforcement agents who examine mass taking pictures attacks and seek the advice of on faculty security measures.

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“We are going to first work collaboratively to identify where Armoured One resources can greatest compliment the training already supplied, adding 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 Metropolis Hall to announce the partnership.

Press the play button directly beneath to watch all the information convention.

The security glass and film that Armoured One invented can withstand several hits -- whether that’s bullets, somebody ramming into the glass or using different objects or weapons -- with out breaking, which could slow an attacker. The doorways it makes use of have metal framing, latch bolts and deadbolts.

Armoured One is also known for offering energetic shooter training and assessments. The corporate issues particular person experiences for each building and recommends one of the best gear to use for every facility it’s working with.

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Curry stated he plans to search out the funding for that training but in addition work with the corporate to perform school security assessments. Armoured One CEO Tom Czyz mentioned his workforce is aware of what to look for when it assesses a college’s vulnerability.

“They’re ways to slow down an attacker and speed up police response,” Czyz mentioned. “How do we gradual him down -- and then velocity up the response that might cease him.”

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

What I wish to be frequent is that our families know that we are ready every day. And that’s what we work in the direction of being a better college district because it relates to security and security,” Inexperienced stated.

Burton mentioned, “I'd say the one word that summarizes every little thing that we do is vigilance.”

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

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So far as the fee, it’s unclear proper now, as the partnership continues to be being worked out.

Duval County voters authorised a half-cent sales tax in November 2020 with the precise goal of changing growing old faculties, repairing a massive backlog of maintenance points, and bolstering faculty safety.

Right now, 74 initiatives are within the design phase 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 initiatives underneath development.

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

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

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The next checklist of safety measures is published on the school district’s web site:

Each college has a security plan and emergency response team.

All faculty school rooms are locked when occupied by students.

School plans are reviewed with staff every semester.

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

The district utilizes varied main safety monitoring strategies together with digicam surveillance and monitored managed access programs.

All schools and district offices have a District Emergency Communications Network radio with direct entry to school police and district leadership. College Police have direct entry to JSO.

All faculties conduct common evacuation drills (fireplace drills).

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

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