City, DCPS broadcasts partnership with firm specializing in safety doorways, glass

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The city of Jacksonville and Duval County faculty district on Wednesday introduced a brand new plan to maintain children protected in the classroom.

The college district hired a New York company named Armoured One, which makes a speciality of doors and glass and claims it could actually decelerate or forestall a shooter from getting into a classroom.

These are essential components after police in Texas decided the door accessed by the gunman at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde was closed however not locked. Originally, state police said a trainer left the door propped open. Investigators concluded the trainer actually closed the door, however it didn’t lock mechanically like it was alleged to. The gunman shot and killed 19 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 army and regulation enforcement agents who examine mass taking pictures assaults and consult on school safety measures.

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

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

The safety glass and movie that Armoured One invented can withstand several hits -- whether or not that’s bullets, someone ramming into the glass or using different objects or weapons -- without breaking, which may gradual an attacker. The doors it uses have metal framing, latch bolts and deadbolts.

Armoured One is also known for providing lively shooter training and assessments. The company points particular person reports for each building and recommends the best tools to make use of for every facility it’s working with.

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Curry stated he plans to find the funding for that training but also work with the corporate to perform school security assessments. Armoured One CEO Tom Czyz said his group is aware of what to search for when it assesses a faculty’s vulnerability.

“They’re taking a look at methods to slow down an attacker and pace up police response,” Czyz said. “How can we gradual him down -- after which speed up the response that might cease him.”

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

What I need to be frequent is that our households know that we're prepared each day. And that’s what we work in direction of being a better school district because it relates to security and security,” Green mentioned.

Burton said, “I'd say the one word that summarizes everything that we do is vigilance.”

Greene said that the district’s finest protection is its college students and employees. She mentioned she continues to encourage the college community 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 is still being worked out.

Duval County voters permitted a half-cent gross sales tax in November 2020 with the particular objective of replacing growing old faculties, repairing a large backlog of maintenance points, and bolstering faculty security.

Right now, 74 projects are within the design phase and 15 are under construction.

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

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

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

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The next listing of security measures is revealed on the varsity district’s web site:

Every college has a safety plan and emergency response workforce.

All faculty school rooms are locked when occupied by students.

Faculty plans are reviewed with employees every semester.

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

The district utilizes varied major security monitoring strategies including camera surveillance and monitored managed access methods.

All schools and district workplaces have a District Emergency Communications Network radio with direct entry to highschool police and district management. Faculty Police have direct entry to JSO.

All faculties conduct regular evacuation drills (hearth drills).

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

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