City, DCPS declares partnership with firm specializing in safety doors, glass

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

The college district hired a New York firm named Armoured One, which focuses on doorways and glass and claims it will possibly decelerate or prevent 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. Originally, state police stated a instructor left the door propped open. Investigators concluded the instructor really closed the door, but it surely didn’t lock robotically like it was speculated to. The gunman shot and killed 19 college students and two teachers earlier than he was killed by legislation enforcement.

Armoured One, which was founded after the Sandy Hook Elementary Faculty capturing, is made up of former navy and law enforcement brokers who examine mass shooting assaults and consult on school safety measures.

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“We'll first work collaboratively to determine the place Armoured One assets can finest compliment the training already provided, adding their resources to the coaching tools and sources the district already makes use of,” Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry stated Wednesday afternoon at a news conference at Metropolis Hall to announce the partnership.

Press the play button directly beneath to watch all the news conference.

The security glass and movie that Armoured One invented can face up to several hits -- whether or not that’s bullets, someone ramming into the glass or using other objects or weapons -- without breaking, which could slow an attacker. The doorways it makes use of have metal framing, latch bolts and deadbolts.

Armoured One can also be recognized for providing lively shooter coaching and assessments. The company issues particular person reviews for every constructing and recommends the perfect gear to use for every facility it’s working with.

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

“They’re taking a look at methods to slow down an attacker and speed up police response,” Czyz mentioned. “How do we gradual him down -- after which velocity up the response that might cease him.”

Duval County Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Diana Greene and Duval County School Police Department Chief Greg Burton say security and safety are top of mind each day.

What I want to be frequent is that our households know that we are prepared every day. And that’s what we work towards being a better school district because it pertains to security and security,” Green said.

Burton mentioned, “I might say the one phrase that summarizes every thing that we do is vigilance.”

Greene mentioned that the district’s greatest protection is its college students and employees. She mentioned she continues to encourage the college group to report anything they see that’s suspicious.

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

Duval County voters approved a half-cent sales tax in November 2020 with the precise function of changing aging faculties, repairing an enormous backlog of maintenance issues, and bolstering college security.

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

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

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

Extra details about how that money is deliberate to be spent in individual faculties could be found on the school district’s half-cent gross sales tax info dashboard.

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The following listing of safety measures is published on the varsity district’s web site:

Each college has a safety plan and emergency response workforce.

All school school rooms are locked when occupied by college students.

School plans are reviewed with workers each semester.

The district has a highly trained college police department, giving all colleges direct entry to highschool resource officers.

The district utilizes varied main security monitoring strategies together with digicam surveillance and monitored managed access programs.

All schools and district places of work have a District Emergency Communications Network radio with direct entry to high school police and district management. Faculty Police have direct access to JSO.

All schools conduct common evacuation drills (fire drills).

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

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