Metropolis, DCPS broadcasts partnership with firm specializing in safety doorways, glass

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The city of Jacksonville and Duval County college district on Wednesday announced a new plan to keep children safe in the classroom.

The school district employed a New York firm named Armoured One, which focuses on doorways and glass and claims it will possibly decelerate or stop a shooter from getting into a classroom.

Those are crucial factors after police in Texas determined the door accessed by the gunman at Robb Elementary College in Uvalde was closed however not locked. Initially, state police mentioned a teacher left the door propped open. Investigators concluded the trainer really closed the door, but it surely didn’t lock mechanically like it was imagined to. The gunman shot and killed 19 students and two academics before he was killed by law enforcement.

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

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“We are going to first work collaboratively to identify where Armoured One sources can greatest praise the coaching already supplied, adding their sources to the coaching tools and sources the district already makes use of,” Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry stated Wednesday afternoon at a information conference at Metropolis Corridor to announce the partnership.

Press the play button instantly beneath to watch the whole news conference.

The security glass and film that Armoured One invented can stand up to a number of hits -- whether that’s bullets, somebody ramming into the glass or using different objects or weapons -- without breaking, which could slow an attacker. The doorways it uses have steel framing, latch bolts and deadbolts.

Armoured One is also identified for providing active shooter training and assessments. The company issues particular person reports for every building and recommends the most effective equipment to use for each facility it’s working with.

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Curry stated he plans to search out the funding for that coaching but in addition work with the corporate to carry out school safety assessments. Armoured One CEO Tom Czyz stated his staff knows what to search for when it assesses a college’s vulnerability.

“They’re looking at ways to decelerate an attacker and speed up police response,” Czyz mentioned. “How do we gradual him down -- after which pace up the response that may stop him.”

Duval County Public Faculties Superintendent Dr. Diana Greene and Duval County College Police Division Chief Greg Burton say safety and security are top of mind each day.

What I need to be widespread is that our households know that we are ready each day. And that’s what we work in direction of being a greater faculty district because it relates to safety and safety,” Green said.

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

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

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

Duval County voters authorised a half-cent gross sales tax in November 2020 with the particular purpose of changing growing old faculties, repairing a large backlog of maintenance points, and bolstering faculty safety.

Right now, 74 projects are within 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 tasks below development.

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

More information about how that cash is planned to be spent in individual faculties could be found on the school district’s half-cent gross sales tax data dashboard.

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The next checklist of safety measures is published on the school district’s website:

Every school has a security plan and emergency response staff.

All faculty classrooms are locked when occupied by college students.

Faculty plans are reviewed with workers each semester.

The district has a extremely skilled faculty police division, giving all schools direct entry to high school useful resource officers.

The district utilizes various major safety monitoring methods including digital camera surveillance and monitored managed access systems.

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

All schools conduct common evacuation drills (fireplace drills).

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

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