Metropolis, DCPS announces partnership with company specializing in safety doorways, glass

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The city of Jacksonville and Duval County college district on Wednesday announced a brand new plan to keep youngsters safe within the classroom.

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

Those are crucial factors 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 mentioned a teacher left the door propped open. Investigators concluded the trainer really closed the door, but it didn’t lock automatically like it was speculated to. The gunman shot and killed 19 college students and two lecturers before he was killed by legislation enforcement.

Armoured One, which was founded after the Sandy Hook Elementary School capturing, is made up of former army and regulation enforcement brokers who examine mass taking pictures attacks and consult on school safety measures.

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“We will first work collaboratively to identify the place Armoured One assets can best praise the coaching already supplied, adding their sources to the coaching instruments and resources the district already makes use of,” Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry stated Wednesday afternoon at a information convention at Metropolis Corridor to announce the partnership.

Press the play button directly beneath to look at the whole information convention.

The security glass and movie that Armoured One invented can stand up to a number of hits -- whether or not that’s bullets, someone ramming into the glass or utilizing different objects or weapons -- with out breaking, which might gradual an attacker. The doors it makes use of have metallic framing, latch bolts and deadbolts.

Armoured One is also recognized for offering lively shooter coaching and assessments. The company points individual reviews for every constructing and recommends the perfect tools to make use of for each facility it’s working with.

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Curry stated he plans to find the funding for that training but additionally work with the corporate to carry out faculty safety assessments. Armoured One CEO Tom Czyz said his team knows what to search for when it assesses a faculty’s vulnerability.

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

Duval County Public Colleges Superintendent Dr. Diana Greene and Duval County School Police Department Chief Greg Burton say safety and security are prime of mind on daily basis.

What I need to be frequent is that our families know that we're prepared each day. And that’s what we work in direction of being a better college district as it pertains to security and safety,” Inexperienced mentioned.

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

Greene mentioned that the district’s greatest protection 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 price, 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 particular objective of changing growing older schools, repairing a massive backlog of maintenance points, and bolstering school safety.

Right now, 74 initiatives are in the design part and 15 are underneath 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 beneath building.

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

More details about how that money is planned to be spent in individual schools will be found on the school district’s half-cent sales tax information dashboard.

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The next list of security measures is published on the college district’s website:

Every school has a safety plan and emergency response workforce.

All school lecture rooms are locked when occupied by students.

College plans are reviewed with employees every semester.

The district has a extremely educated college police department, giving all faculties direct entry to high school resource officers.

The district makes use of varied major safety monitoring strategies including digital camera surveillance and monitored managed access methods.

All colleges 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 schools conduct regular evacuation drills (fire drills).

All faculties conduct regular emergency and lockdown (“code purple” and “code yellow”) drills.

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