City, DCPS broadcasts partnership with company specializing in safety doors, glass

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Town of Jacksonville and Duval County college district on Wednesday introduced a new plan to keep children secure within the classroom.

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

These are essential elements after police in Texas determined the door accessed by the gunman at Robb Elementary Faculty in Uvalde was closed but not locked. Initially, state police stated a instructor left the door propped open. Investigators concluded the trainer really closed the door, nevertheless it didn’t lock robotically like it was imagined to. The gunman shot and killed 19 students and two lecturers earlier than he was killed by law enforcement.

Armoured One, which was based after the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting, is made up of former army and legislation enforcement agents who research mass taking pictures attacks and consult on college safety measures.

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“We'll first work collaboratively to determine the place Armoured One sources can finest praise the coaching already supplied, including their assets to the training tools and resources the district already makes use of,” Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry mentioned Wednesday afternoon at a information conference at City Hall to announce the partnership.

Press the play button directly below to look at the entire news convention.

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

Armoured One is also recognized for providing energetic shooter training and assessments. The corporate issues individual reviews for each constructing and recommends the best tools to make use of for each facility it’s working with.

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Curry said he plans to seek out the funding for that coaching but additionally work with the company to carry out school security assessments. Armoured One CEO Tom Czyz said his workforce is aware of what to look for when it assesses a school’s vulnerability.

“They’re looking at methods to decelerate an attacker and pace up police response,” Czyz mentioned. “How will we slow him down -- after which speed up the response that might stop him.”

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

What I want to be widespread is that our households know that we're ready each and every day. And that’s what we work towards being a better college district because it relates to safety and safety,” Inexperienced stated.

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

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

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So far as the associated fee, it’s unclear proper now, as the partnership continues to be being worked out.

Duval County voters authorised a half-cent sales tax in November 2020 with the particular goal of replacing growing old schools, repairing a massive backlog of upkeep issues, and bolstering faculty security.

Proper now, 74 tasks are in the design section and 15 are beneath 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 initiatives under development.

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

Extra information about how that money is planned to be spent in particular person faculties may be found on the varsity district’s half-cent sales tax info dashboard.

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The next checklist of security measures is published on the varsity district’s web site:

Every college has a security plan and emergency response team.

All college school rooms are locked when occupied by students.

College plans are reviewed with workers each semester.

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

The district utilizes various major safety monitoring strategies including camera surveillance and monitored managed entry programs.

All faculties and district places of work have a District Emergency Communications Community radio with direct entry to high school police and district management. College Police have direct entry to JSO.

All faculties conduct regular evacuation drills (fire drills).

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

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