Metropolis, DCPS publicizes partnership with firm specializing in safety doors, glass

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Town of Jacksonville and Duval County school district on Wednesday announced a new plan to maintain kids protected in the classroom.

The college district employed a New York company named Armoured One, which makes a speciality of doorways and glass and claims it could decelerate or stop a shooter from getting into a classroom.

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

Armoured One, which was based after the Sandy Hook Elementary School capturing, is made up of former navy and regulation enforcement agents who study mass capturing assaults and consult on college security measures.

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“We are going to first work collaboratively to identify the place Armoured One assets can greatest compliment the training already supplied, including their assets to the coaching instruments and sources the district already makes use of,” Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry said Wednesday afternoon at a information convention at Metropolis Corridor to announce the partnership.

Press the play button straight beneath to watch the entire news convention.

The security glass and movie 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 -- with out breaking, which might gradual an attacker. The doorways it makes use of have steel framing, latch bolts and deadbolts.

Armoured One can be known for offering lively shooter training and assessments. The corporate issues particular person stories for each building and recommends one of the best equipment to use for every facility it’s working with.

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Curry mentioned he plans to search out the funding for that coaching but also work with the corporate to perform school security assessments. Armoured One CEO Tom Czyz said his crew knows what to search for when it assesses a faculty’s vulnerability.

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

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

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

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

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

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As far as the associated fee, it’s unclear proper 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 purpose of changing getting old faculties, repairing a large backlog of upkeep points, and bolstering college security.

Right now, 74 projects are in the design part and 15 are below construction.

As of January 2022, the tax has generated greater than $118 million dollars, with greater than $5.7 million already spent or allotted to initiatives below development.

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

Extra information about how that cash is planned to be spent in individual faculties may be found on the school district’s half-cent sales tax info dashboard.

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The following list of security measures is printed on the varsity district’s website:

Each faculty has a security plan and emergency response staff.

All school classrooms are locked when occupied by students.

Faculty plans are reviewed with employees each semester.

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

The district utilizes varied main safety monitoring methods together with camera surveillance and monitored controlled entry methods.

All schools and district workplaces have a District Emergency Communications Network radio with direct access to highschool police and district management. College Police have direct entry to JSO.

All schools conduct common evacuation drills (hearth drills).

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

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