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

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

The college district employed a New York firm named Armoured One, which specializes in doors and glass and claims it may possibly slow down or forestall a shooter from getting right into a classroom.

These are essential factors after police in Texas determined the door accessed by the gunman at Robb Elementary College in Uvalde was closed however not locked. Originally, state police mentioned a teacher left the door propped open. Investigators concluded the instructor really closed the door, but it surely didn’t lock robotically prefer it was speculated to. The gunman shot and killed 19 students and two academics 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 military and regulation enforcement agents who examine mass taking pictures attacks and consult on faculty security measures.

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“We are going to first work collaboratively to establish where Armoured One assets can greatest compliment the training already offered, including their assets to the training instruments and assets the district already uses,” Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry mentioned Wednesday afternoon at a information convention at City Hall to announce the partnership.

Press the play button instantly beneath to look at your entire information convention.

The security glass and film that Armoured One invented can withstand a number of hits -- whether or not that’s bullets, somebody ramming into the glass or using other objects or weapons -- without breaking, which may slow an attacker. The doorways it uses have metallic framing, latch bolts and deadbolts.

Armoured One can be known for providing active shooter training and assessments. The company points particular person experiences for every constructing and recommends the perfect equipment to use for every facility it’s working with.

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Curry mentioned he plans to seek out the funding for that training but in addition work with the corporate to carry out faculty security assessments. Armoured One CEO Tom Czyz said his staff is aware of what to look for when it assesses a college’s vulnerability.

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

Duval County Public Colleges Superintendent Dr. Diana Greene and Duval County Faculty Police Division Chief Greg Burton say security and safety are prime of thoughts each day.

What I want to be common is that our households know that we are prepared every day. And that’s what we work towards being a better college district as it relates to security and security,” Inexperienced said.

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

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

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

Duval County voters accredited a half-cent gross sales tax in November 2020 with the particular goal of replacing getting old schools, repairing a large backlog of maintenance issues, and bolstering college security.

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

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

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

More information about how that cash is deliberate to be spent in particular person colleges might be discovered on the varsity district’s half-cent gross sales tax data dashboard.

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The next list of safety measures is published on the varsity district’s website:

Every school has a security plan and emergency response group.

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

College plans are reviewed with employees each semester.

The district has a highly trained school police division, giving all faculties direct entry to high school useful resource officers.

The district makes use of numerous major safety monitoring strategies together with digital camera surveillance and monitored controlled access techniques.

All colleges and district workplaces have a District Emergency Communications Community radio with direct entry to highschool police and district leadership. College Police have direct access to JSO.

All faculties conduct regular evacuation drills (fireplace drills).

All schools conduct regular emergency and lockdown (“code pink” and “code yellow”) drills.

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