City, DCPS pronounces partnership with company specializing in security doorways, glass

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

The varsity district hired a New York firm named Armoured One, which focuses on doorways and glass and claims it might decelerate or forestall a shooter from getting into a classroom.

Those are crucial elements after police in Texas determined the door accessed by the gunman at Robb Elementary Faculty in Uvalde was closed however not locked. Originally, state police stated a teacher left the door propped open. Investigators concluded the trainer actually closed the door, but it surely didn’t lock automatically prefer it was alleged to. The gunman shot and killed 19 college students and two academics earlier than he was killed by law enforcement.

Armoured One, which was founded after the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting, is made up of former navy and law enforcement agents who research mass shooting assaults and consult on college safety measures.

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“We'll first work collaboratively to determine where Armoured One assets can greatest compliment the training already provided, including their resources to the training instruments and resources the district already uses,” Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry mentioned Wednesday afternoon at a news convention at Metropolis Hall to announce the partnership.

Press the play button instantly below to observe the whole information conference.

The security glass and movie that Armoured One invented can stand up to several hits -- whether that’s bullets, someone ramming into the glass or utilizing different objects or weapons -- without breaking, which may slow an attacker. The doors it makes use of have steel framing, latch bolts and deadbolts.

Armoured One can be known for offering active shooter training and assessments. The corporate issues particular person stories for each building and recommends the most effective equipment to use for every facility it’s working with.

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

“They’re taking a look at methods to decelerate an attacker and velocity up police response,” Czyz mentioned. “How do we slow him down -- after which pace up the response that may cease him.”

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

What I wish to be widespread is that our households know that we're prepared each and every day. And that’s what we work in direction of being a better school district as it relates to security and security,” Inexperienced said.

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

Greene mentioned that the district’s best defense is its students and workers. She stated she continues to encourage the varsity group to report anything they see that’s suspicious.

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

Duval County voters authorized a half-cent sales tax in November 2020 with the specific purpose of changing getting old faculties, repairing a massive backlog of maintenance points, and bolstering school safety.

Right now, 74 initiatives are in the design section and 15 are under development.

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

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

More information about how that money is planned to be spent in particular person colleges might be found on the college district’s half-cent sales tax info dashboard.

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The following list of security measures is published on the school district’s website:

Every college has a security plan and emergency response crew.

All faculty school rooms are locked when occupied by students.

College plans are reviewed with employees every semester.

The district has a highly educated faculty police department, giving all schools direct access to high school useful resource officers.

The district makes use of varied major safety monitoring methods including digicam surveillance and monitored managed access programs.

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

All faculties conduct common evacuation drills (fire drills).

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

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