Metropolis, DCPS publicizes partnership with firm specializing in safety doorways, glass

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

The varsity district employed a New York company named Armoured One, which specializes in doors and glass and claims it will possibly decelerate or forestall a shooter from getting into a classroom.

These are crucial components after police in Texas determined the door accessed by the gunman at Robb Elementary College in Uvalde was closed but not locked. Originally, state police mentioned a trainer left the door propped open. Investigators concluded the instructor actually closed the door, but it didn’t lock mechanically like it was alleged to. The gunman shot and killed 19 college students and two academics before he was killed by legislation enforcement.

Armoured One, which was based after the Sandy Hook Elementary Faculty taking pictures, is made up of former military and legislation enforcement brokers who study mass shooting assaults and consult on school security measures.

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“We will first work collaboratively to establish the place Armoured One resources can finest praise the training already supplied, adding their sources to the training instruments and assets the district already uses,” Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry stated Wednesday afternoon at a news conference at City Hall to announce the partnership.

Press the play button straight below to watch the entire information conference.

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

Armoured One can be recognized for providing active shooter coaching and assessments. The corporate issues individual reviews for every constructing and recommends one of the best gear to use for each facility it’s working with.

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Curry stated he plans to search out the funding for that coaching but in addition work with the corporate to perform faculty safety assessments. Armoured One CEO Tom Czyz mentioned his group knows what to look for when it assesses a school’s vulnerability.

“They’re looking at methods to slow down an attacker and pace up police response,” Czyz said. “How can we gradual him down -- and then speed up the response that may cease him.”

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

What I wish to be frequent is that our households know that we're prepared every day. And that’s what we work in direction of being a greater faculty district as it pertains to security and security,” Green stated.

Burton said, “I'd say the one word that summarizes every part 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 school group to report something 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 accepted a half-cent sales tax in November 2020 with the precise function of changing growing older faculties, repairing a massive backlog of maintenance issues, and bolstering faculty security.

Proper now, 74 tasks are in the design section and 15 are under 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 tasks below construction.

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

More details about how that cash is planned to be spent in individual colleges may be found on the varsity district’s half-cent gross sales tax info dashboard.

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

Every college has a security plan and emergency response team.

All faculty lecture rooms are locked when occupied by college students.

College plans are reviewed with employees each semester.

The district has a extremely trained college police division, giving all colleges direct access to high school resource officers.

The district makes use of varied major security monitoring strategies including camera surveillance and monitored managed entry programs.

All colleges and district workplaces have a District Emergency Communications Network radio with direct access to school police and district management. School Police have direct entry to JSO.

All schools conduct regular evacuation drills (fire drills).

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

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