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

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The town of Jacksonville and Duval County faculty district on Wednesday announced a new plan to keep kids secure within the classroom.

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

Those are crucial factors after police in Texas decided the door accessed by the gunman at Robb Elementary Faculty in Uvalde was closed but not locked. Initially, state police mentioned a instructor left the door propped open. Investigators concluded the instructor truly closed the door, nevertheless it didn’t lock routinely like it was supposed to. The gunman shot and killed 19 students and two academics before he was killed by regulation enforcement.

Armoured One, which was based after the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting, is made up of former military and regulation enforcement agents who examine mass capturing attacks and consult on faculty security measures.

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“We will first work collaboratively to determine the place Armoured One resources can finest compliment the coaching already provided, including their resources to the training tools and sources the district already uses,” Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry stated Wednesday afternoon at a information convention at City Corridor to announce the partnership.

Press the play button directly beneath to observe all the information conference.

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 -- with out breaking, which might slow an attacker. The doors it uses have metallic framing, latch bolts and deadbolts.

Armoured One is also known for providing lively shooter training and assessments. The corporate points individual reports for each constructing and recommends the most effective tools to use for every facility it’s working with.

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Curry mentioned he plans to search out the funding for that training but additionally work with the company to carry out school safety assessments. Armoured One CEO Tom Czyz stated his workforce is aware of what to search for when it assesses a college’s vulnerability.

“They’re taking a look at ways to decelerate an attacker and pace up police response,” Czyz said. “How do we gradual him down -- after which pace up the response that might stop him.”

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

What I wish to be common is that our households know that we are prepared each and every day. And that’s what we work in the direction of being a better faculty district as it pertains to security and safety,” Green said.

Burton stated, “I would say the one phrase that summarizes the whole lot that we do is vigilance.”

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

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So far as the cost, it’s unclear right now, because the partnership continues to be being worked out.

Duval County voters accredited a half-cent sales tax in November 2020 with the precise function of replacing growing older colleges, repairing a large backlog of upkeep points, and bolstering school security.

Right now, 74 projects are within the design phase and 15 are beneath construction.

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

Over its 15-year life, the sales tax is projected to generate $64.9 million for the specific goal of upgrading college safety in DCPS colleges.

More information about how that cash is deliberate to be spent in particular person colleges may be found on the college district’s half-cent gross sales tax info dashboard.

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The following list of safety measures is printed on the college district’s website:

Each school has a safety plan and emergency response group.

All faculty lecture rooms are locked when occupied by students.

School plans are reviewed with employees every semester.

The district has a highly educated college police division, giving all faculties direct access to highschool resource officers.

The district makes use of varied major safety monitoring strategies together with digital camera surveillance and monitored managed access methods.

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

All faculties conduct common evacuation drills (hearth drills).

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

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