Metropolis, DCPS announces partnership with firm specializing in security doors, glass

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The town of Jacksonville and Duval County school district on Wednesday introduced a new plan to keep children secure in the classroom.

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

These are essential components after police in Texas determined the door accessed by the gunman at Robb Elementary College in Uvalde was closed however not locked. Initially, 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 purported to. The gunman shot and killed 19 college 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 army and law enforcement brokers who examine mass taking pictures assaults and consult on school security measures.

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“We are going to first work collaboratively to establish the place Armoured One resources can best compliment the training already provided, adding their assets to the coaching instruments and assets the district already uses,” Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry mentioned Wednesday afternoon at a news conference at City Corridor to announce the partnership.

Press the play button instantly beneath to watch the whole information conference.

The security glass and film that Armoured One invented can stand up to a number of hits -- whether 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 metallic framing, latch bolts and deadbolts.

Armoured One can also be identified for offering lively shooter training and assessments. The company points particular person studies for every constructing and recommends one of the best equipment to make use of for each facility it’s working with.

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Curry said he plans to seek out the funding for that coaching but in addition work with the corporate to carry out college safety assessments. Armoured One CEO Tom Czyz mentioned his crew 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 stated. “How can we gradual him down -- after which pace up the response that would stop him.”

Duval County Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Diana Greene and Duval County Faculty Police Department Chief Greg Burton say security and safety are high of thoughts on daily basis.

What I wish to be widespread is that our households know that we are prepared each day. And that’s what we work towards being a greater college district as it relates to safety and safety,” Inexperienced stated.

Burton mentioned, “I'd say the one phrase that summarizes every thing that we do is vigilance.”

Greene said that the district’s finest defense is its college students and workers. She mentioned she continues to encourage the college community to report anything 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 gross sales tax in November 2020 with the specific goal of changing aging faculties, repairing a massive backlog of upkeep issues, and bolstering faculty safety.

Right now, 74 initiatives are within the design section and 15 are underneath development.

As of January 2022, the tax has generated greater than $118 million dollars, with greater than $5.7 million already spent or allocated to projects under building.

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

Extra information about how that money is deliberate to be spent in particular person colleges could be discovered on the school district’s half-cent gross sales tax data dashboard.

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The next list of security measures is printed on the varsity district’s website:

Every college has a safety plan and emergency response workforce.

All school classrooms are locked when occupied by students.

College plans are reviewed with employees each semester.

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

The district utilizes numerous major security monitoring methods including digicam surveillance and monitored managed entry programs.

All faculties and district places of work have a District Emergency Communications Network radio with direct access to high school police and district leadership. School Police have direct access to JSO.

All faculties conduct common evacuation drills (fireplace drills).

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

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