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

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Town of Jacksonville and Duval County college district on Wednesday announced a new plan to keep youngsters protected in the classroom.

The college district employed a New York company named Armoured One, which makes a speciality of doors and glass and claims it might probably decelerate or forestall a shooter from getting into a classroom.

Those are crucial components after police in Texas determined the door accessed by the gunman at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde was closed however not locked. Initially, state police stated a teacher left the door propped open. Investigators concluded the teacher really closed the door, however it didn’t lock mechanically prefer it was presupposed to. The gunman shot and killed 19 college students and two teachers before he was killed by regulation enforcement.

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

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“We'll first work collaboratively to determine where Armoured One assets can best compliment the training already provided, adding their resources to the coaching instruments and assets the district already makes use of,” Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry said Wednesday afternoon at a news convention at Metropolis Hall to announce the partnership.

Press the play button directly beneath to look at the whole news convention.

The security glass and film that Armoured One invented can stand up to several hits -- whether or not that’s bullets, someone ramming into the glass or utilizing other objects or weapons -- without breaking, which might sluggish an attacker. The doorways it makes use of have steel framing, latch bolts and deadbolts.

Armoured One can also be identified for offering active shooter coaching and assessments. The company issues particular person reviews for every building and recommends the very best equipment to make use of for each facility it’s working with.

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

“They’re taking a look at ways to decelerate an attacker and pace up police response,” Czyz said. “How will we gradual him down -- and then velocity up the response that would cease 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 every day.

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

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

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

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As far as the associated fee, it’s unclear right now, as the partnership is still being labored out.

Duval County voters authorized a half-cent sales tax in November 2020 with the precise purpose of replacing getting older colleges, repairing an enormous backlog of upkeep issues, and bolstering faculty safety.

Proper now, 74 projects are in the design section and 15 are beneath development.

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 under building.

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

Extra information about how that money is planned to be spent in particular person schools may be discovered on the varsity district’s half-cent gross sales tax info dashboard.

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

Every college has a safety plan and emergency response team.

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

School plans are reviewed with staff each semester.

The district has a highly trained college police division, giving all colleges direct entry to school resource officers.

The district utilizes various main security monitoring methods including digital camera surveillance and monitored managed access techniques.

All faculties and district places of work have a District Emergency Communications Community radio with direct entry to highschool police and district management. Faculty Police have direct entry to JSO.

All schools conduct common evacuation drills (fireplace drills).

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

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