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

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

The varsity district employed a New York company named Armoured One, which specializes in doors and glass and claims it can decelerate or prevent a shooter from getting into a classroom.

These are crucial elements after police in Texas determined the door accessed by the gunman at Robb Elementary College in Uvalde was closed but not locked. Originally, state police mentioned a instructor left the door propped open. Investigators concluded the trainer truly closed the door, but it didn’t lock routinely prefer it was alleged to. The gunman shot and killed 19 college students and two lecturers earlier than he was killed by regulation enforcement.

Armoured One, which was founded after the Sandy Hook Elementary School taking pictures, is made up of former navy and legislation enforcement brokers who research mass capturing attacks and seek the advice of on school security measures.

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“We will first work collaboratively to determine the place Armoured One resources can finest compliment the training already offered, including their assets to the training instruments and assets 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 instantly under to look at all the information convention.

The security glass and film that Armoured One invented can stand up to several hits -- whether that’s bullets, someone ramming into the glass or using different objects or weapons -- with out breaking, which could slow an attacker. The doorways it makes use of have metal framing, latch bolts and deadbolts.

Armoured One can also be known for offering lively shooter coaching and assessments. The company issues particular person reviews for each constructing and recommends the most effective tools to use for every facility it’s working with.

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

“They’re looking at ways to decelerate an attacker and speed up police response,” Czyz stated. “How will we sluggish him down -- after which velocity up the response that would cease him.”

Duval County Public Faculties Superintendent Dr. Diana Greene and Duval County School Police Department Chief Greg Burton say security and safety are prime of thoughts every day.

What I wish to be frequent is that our households know that we are prepared each and every day. And that’s what we work towards being a greater school district because it relates to security and safety,” Inexperienced said.

Burton mentioned, “I would say the one phrase that summarizes all the things that we do is vigilance.”

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

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As far as the associated fee, it’s unclear right now, as the partnership continues to be being worked out.

Duval County voters authorised a half-cent sales tax in November 2020 with the precise purpose of changing getting old colleges, repairing an enormous backlog of maintenance points, and bolstering college security.

Proper now, 74 initiatives are in the design phase and 15 are beneath building.

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

Over its 15-year life, the sales tax is projected to generate $64.9 million for the specific function of upgrading college security in DCPS faculties.

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

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

Each college has a safety plan and emergency response workforce.

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

Faculty plans are reviewed with workers each semester.

The district has a highly educated faculty police department, giving all faculties direct entry to school useful resource officers.

The district makes use of various main security monitoring strategies together with camera surveillance and monitored managed access programs.

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

All faculties conduct regular evacuation drills (fireplace drills).

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

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