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

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Town of Jacksonville and Duval County faculty district on Wednesday introduced a new plan to maintain children secure in the classroom.

The school district hired a New York company named Armoured One, which makes a speciality of doorways and glass and claims it can slow down or forestall a shooter from getting into a classroom.

Those are crucial factors after police in Texas decided the door accessed by the gunman at Robb Elementary College in Uvalde was closed however not locked. Initially, state police stated a instructor left the door propped open. Investigators concluded the instructor truly closed the door, nevertheless it didn’t lock robotically prefer it was alleged to. The gunman shot and killed 19 students and two teachers before he was killed by law enforcement.

Armoured One, which was founded after the Sandy Hook Elementary School capturing, is made up of former military and regulation enforcement brokers who study mass shooting attacks and consult on faculty safety measures.

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“We are going to first work collaboratively to identify where Armoured One sources can best compliment the training already supplied, adding their assets to the training tools and sources the district already makes use of,” Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry stated Wednesday afternoon at a information convention at City Hall to announce the partnership.

Press the play button instantly under to look at all the information convention.

The security glass and movie that Armoured One invented can face 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 could gradual an attacker. The doors 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 corporate points individual experiences for each building and recommends the perfect gear to make use of for every facility it’s working with.

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Curry stated he plans to seek out the funding for that training but also work with the corporate to carry out college 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 looking at ways to slow down an attacker and speed up police response,” Czyz mentioned. “How do we gradual him down -- and then pace up the response that may stop him.”

Duval County Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Diana Greene and Duval County College Police Division Chief Greg Burton say security and safety are top of mind every single day.

What I need to be frequent is that our families know that we are ready every day. And that’s what we work in direction of being a better faculty district as it pertains to safety and safety,” Green said.

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

Greene said that the district’s best defense is its students and staff. She mentioned she continues to encourage the college community to report something they see that’s suspicious.

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So far as the associated fee, it’s unclear proper now, because the partnership remains to be being worked out.

Duval County voters authorized a half-cent gross sales tax in November 2020 with the particular goal of replacing getting older colleges, repairing an enormous backlog of upkeep points, and bolstering college security.

Right now, 74 initiatives are in 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 allocated to projects underneath development.

Over its 15-year life, the gross sales tax is projected to generate $64.9 million for the particular function of upgrading faculty security in DCPS schools.

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

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

Every faculty has a safety plan and emergency response team.

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

School plans are reviewed with staff every semester.

The district has a highly trained college police department, giving all schools direct entry to highschool resource officers.

The district utilizes numerous main security monitoring methods including digicam surveillance and monitored managed entry techniques.

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

All schools conduct common evacuation drills (hearth drills).

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

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