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

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

The varsity district hired a New York company named Armoured One, which focuses on doorways and glass and claims it could 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 School in Uvalde was closed but not locked. Originally, state police mentioned a trainer left the door propped open. Investigators concluded the trainer truly closed the door, but it didn’t lock mechanically prefer it was supposed to. The gunman shot and killed 19 students and two teachers before he was killed by regulation enforcement.

Armoured One, which was based after the Sandy Hook Elementary College capturing, is made up of former military and legislation enforcement agents who research mass capturing attacks and seek the advice of on college safety measures.

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“We'll first work collaboratively to identify where Armoured One assets can finest praise the training already offered, adding their resources to the coaching instruments and resources the district already uses,” Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry said Wednesday afternoon at a news convention at Metropolis Corridor to announce the partnership.

Press the play button directly under to look at the entire news convention.

The security glass and movie that Armoured One invented can withstand a number of hits -- whether or not that’s bullets, someone ramming into the glass or using other objects or weapons -- with out breaking, which might slow an attacker. The doorways it uses have steel framing, latch bolts and deadbolts.

Armoured One can also be identified for offering active shooter training and assessments. The company points individual experiences for each building and recommends one of the best gear to make use of for every facility it’s working with.

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

“They’re taking a look at ways to decelerate an attacker and speed up police response,” Czyz stated. “How do we slow him down -- and then speed up the response that will cease him.”

Duval County Public Colleges Superintendent Dr. Diana Greene and Duval County College Police Division Chief Greg Burton say safety and security are prime of mind on daily basis.

What I wish to be common is that our households know that we are ready each day. And that’s what we work in the direction of being a greater college district because it relates to security and safety,” Green stated.

Burton said, “I might say the one word that summarizes every thing that we do is vigilance.”

Greene stated that the district’s finest defense 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 cost, it’s unclear proper now, because the partnership remains to be being worked out.

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

Right now, 74 initiatives are within the design section and 15 are underneath 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 projects under construction.

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

Extra details about how that money is deliberate to be spent in individual schools can be discovered on the varsity district’s half-cent sales tax info dashboard.

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The following record of safety measures is published on the varsity district’s website:

Every school has a safety 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 educated faculty police department, giving all schools direct entry to highschool resource officers.

The district makes use of varied main safety monitoring strategies including digital camera surveillance and monitored managed access methods.

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

All schools conduct regular evacuation drills (fireplace drills).

All colleges conduct regular emergency and lockdown (“code crimson” and “code yellow”) drills.

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