Metropolis, DCPS proclaims partnership with company specializing in security doorways, glass

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Town of Jacksonville and Duval County college district on Wednesday announced a brand new plan to keep kids safe within the classroom.

The college district employed a New York company named Armoured One, which specializes in doors and glass and claims it can decelerate or stop a shooter from getting right into a classroom.

These are essential components after police in Texas determined the door accessed by the gunman at Robb Elementary Faculty in Uvalde was closed however not locked. Initially, state police stated a teacher left the door propped open. Investigators concluded the teacher really closed the door, nevertheless it didn’t lock routinely prefer it was purported to. The gunman shot and killed 19 students and two academics earlier than he was killed by regulation enforcement.

Armoured One, which was based after the Sandy Hook Elementary College capturing, is made up of former army and legislation enforcement agents who research mass capturing attacks and consult on school safety measures.

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“We'll first work collaboratively to determine the place Armoured One resources can greatest compliment the coaching already offered, adding their resources to the training tools and resources the district already uses,” Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry stated Wednesday afternoon at a information conference at Metropolis Hall to announce the partnership.

Press the play button instantly under to look at all the news convention.

The security glass and movie that Armoured One invented can stand up to several hits -- whether that’s bullets, someone ramming into the glass or utilizing other objects or weapons -- without breaking, which could sluggish an attacker. The doorways it makes use of have steel framing, latch bolts and deadbolts.

Armoured One is also recognized for providing lively shooter coaching and assessments. The company issues particular person reports for each constructing and recommends one of the best equipment 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 training but also work with the company to carry out college safety assessments. Armoured One CEO Tom Czyz stated his team knows what to look for when it assesses a faculty’s vulnerability.

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

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

What I wish to be widespread is that our families know that we are prepared each and every day. And that’s what we work in direction of being a greater faculty district as it relates to security and security,” Green said.

Burton stated, “I would say the one phrase that summarizes everything that we do is vigilance.”

Greene said that the district’s best defense is its students and staff. She mentioned she continues to encourage the college community to report something they see that’s suspicious.

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So far as the cost, it’s unclear right now, because the partnership continues to be being labored out.

Duval County voters accredited a half-cent gross sales tax in November 2020 with the particular function of replacing getting old schools, repairing a large backlog of maintenance points, and bolstering faculty security.

Right now, 74 initiatives are in the design section and 15 are beneath 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 projects beneath development.

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

Extra details about how that cash is deliberate to be spent in individual faculties may be discovered on the college district’s half-cent sales tax information dashboard.

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The next listing of safety measures is published on the college district’s website:

Every college has a security plan and emergency response crew.

All school lecture rooms are locked when occupied by students.

School plans are reviewed with workers every semester.

The district has a extremely educated faculty police division, giving all colleges direct access to high school resource officers.

The district makes use of numerous major security monitoring methods together with digicam surveillance and monitored controlled access techniques.

All schools and district places of work have a District Emergency Communications Network radio with direct access to high school police and district leadership. College 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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