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

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

The college district hired a New York firm named Armoured One, which makes a speciality of doors and glass and claims it might probably 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 but not locked. Originally, state police mentioned a teacher left the door propped open. Investigators concluded the trainer really closed the door, however it didn’t lock automatically prefer it was presupposed to. The gunman shot and killed 19 college students and two academics before he was killed by legislation enforcement.

Armoured One, which was founded after the Sandy Hook Elementary Faculty taking pictures, is made up of former military and law enforcement agents who research mass capturing assaults and seek the advice of on school safety measures.

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“We are going to first work collaboratively to identify where Armoured One resources can best compliment the coaching already provided, including their resources to the training instruments and resources the district already uses,” Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry said Wednesday afternoon at a information conference at Metropolis Corridor to announce the partnership.

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The safety glass and film that Armoured One invented can face up to several hits -- whether or not that’s bullets, someone ramming into the glass or using different objects or weapons -- without breaking, which might slow an attacker. The doors it makes use of have metal framing, latch bolts and deadbolts.

Armoured One can be recognized for offering lively shooter training and assessments. The company points particular person reports for every building and recommends the very best tools to make use of for every facility it’s working with.

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Curry stated he plans to seek out the funding for that coaching but additionally work with the corporate to perform faculty security assessments. Armoured One CEO Tom Czyz mentioned his workforce is aware of what to look for when it assesses a college’s vulnerability.

“They’re ways to slow down an attacker and speed up police response,” Czyz stated. “How do we gradual him down -- and then pace up the response that might cease him.”

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

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

Burton said, “I might say the one word that summarizes all the things that we do is vigilance.”

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

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So far as the associated fee, it’s unclear proper now, because the partnership continues to be being worked out.

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

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

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

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

Extra information about how that cash is planned to be spent in individual colleges will be found on the varsity district’s half-cent gross sales tax info dashboard.

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

Each faculty has a safety plan and emergency response workforce.

All faculty lecture rooms are locked when occupied by students.

Faculty plans are reviewed with workers every semester.

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

The district makes use of varied major safety monitoring strategies together with digital camera surveillance and monitored controlled access methods.

All schools and district places of work have a District Emergency Communications Community radio with direct entry to highschool police and district management. Faculty Police have direct entry to JSO.

All faculties conduct common evacuation drills (hearth drills).

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

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