City, DCPS declares partnership with company specializing in safety doorways, glass

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The city of Jacksonville and Duval County faculty district on Wednesday introduced a new plan to maintain kids safe within the classroom.

The school district hired a New York company named Armoured One, which focuses on doors and glass and claims it may possibly slow down or prevent a shooter from getting right into a classroom.

These are essential elements after police in Texas decided the door accessed by the gunman at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde was closed but not locked. Originally, state police stated a teacher left the door propped open. Investigators concluded the trainer actually closed the door, however it didn’t lock robotically prefer it was speculated to. The gunman shot and killed 19 college students and two lecturers earlier than he was killed by regulation enforcement.

Armoured One, which was based after the Sandy Hook Elementary Faculty taking pictures, is made up of former army and legislation enforcement agents who study mass capturing attacks and consult on faculty security measures.

Advert

“We will first work collaboratively to determine where Armoured One resources can finest praise the coaching already offered, adding their sources to the coaching instruments and sources the district already makes use of,” Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry mentioned Wednesday afternoon at a information convention at Metropolis Hall to announce the partnership.

Press the play button instantly under to watch the complete news conference.

The security glass and movie that Armoured One invented can face up to a number of hits -- whether that’s bullets, someone ramming into the glass or using other objects or weapons -- with out breaking, which may slow an attacker. The doors it makes use of have metal framing, latch bolts and deadbolts.

Armoured One can also be known for offering active shooter coaching and assessments. The corporate points individual studies for every constructing and recommends the best gear to make use of for each facility it’s working with.

Ad

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

“They’re looking at ways to decelerate an attacker and pace up police response,” Czyz said. “How do we slow him down -- and then velocity up the response that may stop him.”

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

What I need to be widespread is that our households know that we're prepared each day. And that’s what we work towards being a better school district as it pertains to safety and security,” Green stated.

Burton stated, “I'd say the one phrase that summarizes every part that we do is vigilance.”

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

Ad

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

Duval County voters accredited a half-cent gross sales tax in November 2020 with the particular purpose of changing ageing colleges, repairing a massive backlog of maintenance issues, and bolstering college security.

Proper now, 74 initiatives are within the design part and 15 are below development.

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

Over its 15-year life, the sales tax is projected to generate $64.9 million for the particular function of upgrading faculty security in DCPS faculties.

Extra details about how that cash is planned to be spent in individual faculties will be discovered on the school district’s half-cent gross sales tax info dashboard.

Ad

The next checklist of security measures is published on the college district’s website:

Each college has a safety plan and emergency response staff.

All school lecture rooms are locked when occupied by students.

College plans are reviewed with workers every semester.

The district has a extremely skilled school police division, giving all schools direct entry to school resource officers.

The district makes use of varied major safety monitoring methods together with digicam surveillance and monitored controlled entry methods.

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

All faculties conduct regular evacuation drills (fire drills).

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

Copyright 2022 by WJXT News4JAX - All rights reserved.