Metropolis, DCPS broadcasts partnership with firm specializing in security doorways, glass

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The city of Jacksonville and Duval County school district on Wednesday announced a new plan to maintain children secure in the classroom.

The varsity district hired a New York firm named Armoured One, which focuses on doors and glass and claims it will probably decelerate or stop 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 School in Uvalde was closed but not locked. Initially, state police stated a trainer left the door propped open. Investigators concluded the trainer actually closed the door, but it surely didn’t lock mechanically like it was alleged to. The gunman shot and killed 19 students and two academics earlier than he was killed by regulation enforcement.

Armoured One, which was founded after the Sandy Hook Elementary College taking pictures, is made up of former army and law enforcement agents who study mass shooting attacks and consult on college security measures.

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“We are going to first work collaboratively to establish where Armoured One resources can finest compliment the coaching already provided, adding their assets to the coaching tools and sources the district already makes use of,” Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry said Wednesday afternoon at a news convention at Metropolis Corridor to announce the partnership.

Press the play button instantly below to look at the complete information convention.

The safety glass and film that Armoured One invented can face up to a number of hits -- whether that’s bullets, somebody ramming into the glass or using different objects or weapons -- without breaking, which may sluggish an attacker. The doors it makes use of have metal framing, latch bolts and deadbolts.

Armoured One can also be known for providing energetic shooter training and assessments. The corporate points individual stories for each building and recommends the very best gear to use for each facility it’s working with.

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

“They’re ways to slow down an attacker and pace up police response,” Czyz stated. “How will we slow him down -- after which velocity up the response that may cease him.”

Duval County Public Colleges Superintendent Dr. Diana Greene and Duval County Faculty Police Division Chief Greg Burton say safety and security are top of mind daily.

What I want to be common 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 as it relates to security and security,” Inexperienced mentioned.

Burton mentioned, “I'd say the one phrase that summarizes every part that we do is vigilance.”

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

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As far as the price, it’s unclear right now, because the partnership remains to be being labored out.

Duval County voters approved a half-cent sales tax in November 2020 with the particular goal of replacing aging colleges, repairing a large backlog of upkeep points, and bolstering college security.

Right now, 74 tasks are in the design section and 15 are underneath development.

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

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

Extra details about how that cash is planned to be spent in particular person faculties can be discovered on the school district’s half-cent gross sales tax data dashboard.

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The following listing of security measures is published on the varsity district’s website:

Each school has a safety plan and emergency response group.

All faculty school rooms are locked when occupied by students.

College plans are reviewed with staff every semester.

The district has a highly educated college police division, giving all faculties direct access to highschool useful resource officers.

The district makes use of varied main security monitoring methods together with digital camera surveillance and monitored controlled access systems.

All faculties and district offices have a District Emergency Communications Network radio with direct access to highschool police and district management. School Police have direct access to JSO.

All faculties conduct regular evacuation drills (fireplace drills).

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

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