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

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Town of Jacksonville and Duval County college district on Wednesday announced a new plan to keep children protected within the classroom.

The varsity district hired a New York company named Armoured One, which makes a speciality of doorways and glass and claims it might decelerate or prevent a shooter from getting into a classroom.

Those 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. Originally, state police said a teacher left the door propped open. Investigators concluded the teacher really closed the door, nevertheless it didn’t lock routinely like it was presupposed to. The gunman shot and killed 19 students and two academics earlier than he was killed by law enforcement.

Armoured One, which was based after the Sandy Hook Elementary College taking pictures, is made up of former army and law enforcement brokers who study mass capturing assaults and consult on faculty security measures.

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“We will first work collaboratively to identify the place Armoured One assets can best compliment the coaching already offered, including their assets to the training instruments and assets the district already makes use of,” Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry stated Wednesday afternoon at a information conference at City Corridor to announce the partnership.

Press the play button straight under to observe the complete information conference.

The safety glass and film that Armoured One invented can face up to a number of hits -- whether that’s bullets, someone ramming into the glass or utilizing other objects or weapons -- without breaking, which might sluggish an attacker. The doors it uses have steel framing, latch bolts and deadbolts.

Armoured One can also be known for offering energetic shooter coaching and assessments. The corporate points particular person stories for every constructing and recommends the best equipment to use for every facility it’s working with.

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

“They’re methods to slow down an attacker and pace up police response,” Czyz mentioned. “How will we sluggish him down -- and then velocity up the response that would cease him.”

Duval County Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Diana Greene and Duval County Faculty Police Division Chief Greg Burton say safety and security are prime of mind day-after-day.

What I want to be widespread is that our families know that we're prepared each day. And that’s what we work in direction of being a greater faculty district as it relates to safety and safety,” Inexperienced mentioned.

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

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

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

Duval County voters authorized a half-cent gross sales tax in November 2020 with the precise purpose of changing ageing faculties, repairing a large backlog of maintenance issues, and bolstering faculty security.

Proper now, 74 tasks are in the design phase and 15 are below construction.

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

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

More details about how that money is planned to be spent in individual colleges will be discovered on the varsity district’s half-cent gross sales tax information dashboard.

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The next listing of security measures is revealed on the school district’s website:

Each faculty has a safety plan and emergency response crew.

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

School plans are reviewed with workers each semester.

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

The district utilizes varied main safety monitoring methods including camera surveillance and monitored controlled access techniques.

All colleges and district offices have a District Emergency Communications Community radio with direct access to high school police and district leadership. School Police have direct access to JSO.

All schools conduct common evacuation drills (hearth drills).

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

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