Metropolis, DCPS publicizes partnership with firm specializing in security doorways, glass

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The town of Jacksonville and Duval County school district on Wednesday introduced a brand new plan to maintain youngsters protected within the classroom.

The college district hired a New York company named Armoured One, which makes a speciality of doors and glass and claims it will possibly slow down or prevent a shooter from getting into a classroom.

Those are essential elements 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 said a teacher left the door propped open. Investigators concluded the teacher actually closed the door, however it didn’t lock automatically like it was supposed to. The gunman shot and killed 19 college students and two academics earlier than he was killed by regulation enforcement.

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

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“We will first work collaboratively to establish where Armoured One assets can finest compliment the training already provided, including their sources to the training tools and assets the district already uses,” Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry mentioned Wednesday afternoon at a news convention at City Hall to announce the partnership.

Press the play button straight under to watch the complete information convention.

The safety glass and film that Armoured One invented can withstand a number of hits -- whether that’s bullets, somebody ramming into the glass or using other objects or weapons -- without breaking, which may slow an attacker. The doors it makes use of have metallic framing, latch bolts and deadbolts.

Armoured One is also known for providing lively shooter coaching and assessments. The company issues individual reviews for every constructing and recommends the most effective equipment to use for each facility it’s working with.

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Curry said he plans to seek out the funding for that coaching but in addition work with the corporate to perform school safety assessments. Armoured One CEO Tom Czyz stated his workforce knows what to look for when it assesses a faculty’s vulnerability.

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

Duval County Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Diana Greene and Duval County College Police Department Chief Greg Burton say safety and security are prime of thoughts daily.

What I wish to be widespread is that our households know that we are prepared every day. And that’s what we work in the direction of being a better school district as it pertains to safety and safety,” Green stated.

Burton said, “I would say the one phrase that summarizes every little thing that we do is vigilance.”

Greene stated that the district’s best protection is its college students and staff. She said she continues to encourage the college neighborhood to report anything they see that’s suspicious.

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

Duval County voters approved a half-cent sales tax in November 2020 with the precise objective of changing growing older faculties, repairing an enormous backlog of maintenance points, and bolstering faculty security.

Proper now, 74 tasks are within the design part and 15 are underneath building.

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 under building.

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

More information about how that money is planned 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 next listing of security measures is printed on the varsity district’s website:

Every school has a safety plan and emergency response staff.

All faculty school rooms are locked when occupied by students.

School plans are reviewed with staff every semester.

The district has a highly educated college police department, giving all faculties direct entry to high school useful resource officers.

The district utilizes numerous major security monitoring methods including camera surveillance and monitored managed entry systems.

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

All faculties conduct regular evacuation drills (fireplace drills).

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

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