City, DCPS announces partnership with firm specializing in security doorways, glass

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

The varsity district hired a New York company named Armoured One, which specializes in doors and glass and claims it could possibly slow down or stop a shooter from getting right into a classroom.

These are crucial elements after police in Texas determined the door accessed by the gunman at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde was closed but not locked. Originally, state police said a trainer left the door propped open. Investigators concluded the instructor really closed the door, nevertheless it didn’t lock robotically prefer it was presupposed to. The gunman shot and killed 19 students and two teachers before he was killed by regulation enforcement.

Armoured One, which was founded after the Sandy Hook Elementary College shooting, is made up of former army and regulation enforcement brokers who study mass shooting attacks and consult on faculty safety measures.

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“We will first work collaboratively to establish where Armoured One sources can best praise the coaching already provided, adding their sources to the training tools and assets the district already uses,” Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry said Wednesday afternoon at a news convention at Metropolis Hall to announce the partnership.

Press the play button immediately beneath to look at the complete news convention.

The security glass and movie that Armoured One invented can face up to several hits -- whether or not that’s bullets, somebody ramming into the glass or using different objects or weapons -- with out breaking, which may sluggish an attacker. The doors it makes use of have metallic framing, latch bolts and deadbolts.

Armoured One can be identified for providing energetic shooter training and assessments. The company points individual reports for every constructing and recommends one of the best gear to make use of for each facility it’s working with.

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

“They’re methods to decelerate an attacker and speed up police response,” Czyz stated. “How will we sluggish him down -- and then pace up the response that will cease him.”

Duval County Public Faculties Superintendent Dr. Diana Greene and Duval County School Police Department Chief Greg Burton say safety and security are prime of thoughts day-after-day.

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

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

Greene mentioned that the district’s greatest protection is its college students and staff. She stated she continues to encourage the varsity community to report something they see that’s suspicious.

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As far as the price, it’s unclear proper now, as the partnership is still being labored out.

Duval County voters approved a half-cent sales tax in November 2020 with the precise purpose of changing growing old schools, repairing a large backlog of maintenance issues, and bolstering college safety.

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

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 underneath development.

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 schools.

More details about how that money is planned to be spent in individual faculties can be discovered 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 web site:

Every college has a safety plan and emergency response staff.

All faculty lecture rooms are locked when occupied by college students.

Faculty plans are reviewed with employees each semester.

The district has a extremely trained faculty police division, giving all schools direct access to school useful resource officers.

The district utilizes various major security monitoring strategies together with digicam surveillance and monitored controlled entry programs.

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

All schools conduct regular evacuation drills (fireplace drills).

All schools conduct regular emergency and lockdown (“code crimson” and “code yellow”) drills.

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