City, DCPS publicizes partnership with company specializing in security doors, glass

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

The college district employed a New York firm named Armoured One, which specializes in doorways and glass and claims it could actually slow down or forestall a shooter from getting right into a classroom.

These are essential elements after police in Texas decided the door accessed by the gunman at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde was closed but not locked. Initially, state police said a teacher left the door propped open. Investigators concluded the trainer actually closed the door, but it didn’t lock routinely like it was supposed 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 School shooting, is made up of former army and regulation enforcement brokers who examine mass capturing attacks and consult on school safety measures.

Advert

“We will first work collaboratively to establish where Armoured One resources can finest compliment the coaching already provided, including their sources to the training instruments and assets the district already makes use of,” Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry said Wednesday afternoon at a news conference at City Corridor to announce the partnership.

Press the play button straight below to look at your complete news conference.

The security glass and film that Armoured One invented can stand up to several hits -- whether that’s bullets, someone ramming into the glass or using other objects or weapons -- without breaking, which may slow an attacker. The doorways it uses have metallic framing, latch bolts and deadbolts.

Armoured One can also be recognized for providing lively shooter coaching and assessments. The corporate issues individual reviews for every building and recommends one of the best gear to make use of for every facility it’s working with.

Ad

Curry said he plans to search out the funding for that coaching but in addition work with the company to carry out faculty safety assessments. Armoured One CEO Tom Czyz stated his crew is aware of what to look for when it assesses a college’s vulnerability.

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

Duval County Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Diana Greene and Duval County College Police Division Chief Greg Burton say safety and security are top of thoughts daily.

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

Burton stated, “I would say the one word that summarizes the whole lot that we do is vigilance.”

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

Ad

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

Duval County voters authorized a half-cent sales tax in November 2020 with the specific purpose of replacing growing older schools, repairing an enormous backlog of upkeep points, and bolstering school safety.

Right now, 74 projects are in the design section and 15 are underneath construction.

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

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

Extra information about how that money is deliberate to be spent in particular person schools may be discovered on the school district’s half-cent gross sales tax data dashboard.

Advert

The following checklist of safety measures is revealed on the varsity district’s website:

Each faculty has a safety plan and emergency response workforce.

All college school rooms are locked when occupied by students.

Faculty plans are reviewed with workers every semester.

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

The district utilizes numerous main security monitoring methods together with camera surveillance and monitored controlled access techniques.

All schools and district places of work have a District Emergency Communications Community radio with direct entry to school police and district leadership. School Police have direct entry to JSO.

All colleges conduct regular evacuation drills (fireplace drills).

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

Copyright 2022 by WJXT News4JAX - All rights reserved.