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

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

The varsity district hired a New York company named Armoured One, which makes a speciality of doors and glass and claims it may decelerate or prevent a shooter from getting into a classroom.

These are essential elements after police in Texas determined the door accessed by the gunman at Robb Elementary Faculty in Uvalde was closed but not locked. Originally, state police mentioned a instructor left the door propped open. Investigators concluded the instructor actually closed the door, but it didn’t lock routinely like it was speculated to. The gunman shot and killed 19 college students and two academics earlier than he was killed by law enforcement.

Armoured One, which was founded after the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting, is made up of former navy and legislation enforcement brokers who research mass shooting assaults and seek the advice of on school security measures.

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“We'll first work collaboratively to identify the place Armoured One sources can finest compliment the coaching already provided, including their resources to the coaching tools and assets the district already uses,” Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry said Wednesday afternoon at a information conference at City Corridor to announce the partnership.

Press the play button directly beneath to watch the whole news convention.

The security glass and film that Armoured One invented can stand up to several hits -- whether that’s bullets, somebody ramming into the glass or utilizing different objects or weapons -- without breaking, which may slow an attacker. The doors it makes use of have steel framing, latch bolts and deadbolts.

Armoured One can be known for providing lively shooter coaching and assessments. The corporate issues particular person experiences for every constructing and recommends the perfect equipment to make use of for every facility it’s working with.

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Curry said he plans to find the funding for that coaching but in addition work with the corporate to carry out college safety assessments. Armoured One CEO Tom Czyz stated his group is aware of what to look for when it assesses a faculty’s vulnerability.

“They’re methods to slow down an attacker and velocity up police response,” Czyz stated. “How will we sluggish him down -- after which velocity up the response that will stop him.”

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

What I wish to be common is that our families know that we're prepared each day. And that’s what we work towards being a greater school district because it relates to safety and security,” Inexperienced said.

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

Greene said that the district’s greatest protection is its college students and workers. She stated she continues to encourage the varsity neighborhood to report something they see that’s suspicious.

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

Duval County voters accredited a half-cent gross sales tax in November 2020 with the precise purpose of replacing aging faculties, repairing a large backlog of maintenance points, and bolstering college security.

Right now, 74 initiatives are in the design phase and 15 are below development.

As of January 2022, the tax has generated greater than $118 million dollars, with more than $5.7 million already spent or allotted to initiatives under 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 particular person faculties could be found on the varsity district’s half-cent sales tax data dashboard.

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The next list of security measures is revealed on the school district’s website:

Every faculty has a security plan and emergency response staff.

All faculty school rooms are locked when occupied by students.

College plans are reviewed with employees each semester.

The district has a highly skilled faculty police division, giving all faculties direct access to highschool useful resource officers.

The district utilizes various major security monitoring strategies including camera surveillance and monitored managed entry systems.

All schools and district places of work have a District Emergency Communications Network radio with direct access to highschool police and district management. School Police have direct entry to JSO.

All colleges conduct regular evacuation drills (hearth drills).

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

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