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

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

The college district hired a New York company named Armoured One, which focuses on doorways and glass and claims it might slow down or prevent a shooter from getting into a classroom.

These 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 teacher really closed the door, but it didn’t lock robotically like it was alleged to. The gunman shot and killed 19 students and two academics earlier than he was killed by regulation enforcement.

Armoured One, which was based after the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting, is made up of former army and legislation enforcement brokers who examine mass taking pictures assaults and consult on college security measures.

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“We'll first work collaboratively to establish where Armoured One sources can greatest compliment the coaching already offered, adding their assets to the training instruments and resources the district already uses,” Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry mentioned Wednesday afternoon at a information conference at Metropolis Hall to announce the partnership.

Press the play button immediately beneath to observe the entire information convention.

The security glass and movie that Armoured One invented can withstand several hits -- whether that’s bullets, someone ramming into the glass or using other objects or weapons -- without breaking, which might slow an attacker. The doorways it makes use of have metal framing, latch bolts and deadbolts.

Armoured One can also be recognized for offering lively shooter coaching and assessments. The corporate issues individual stories for each constructing and recommends the perfect equipment to use for each facility it’s working with.

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Curry mentioned he plans to search out the funding for that coaching but in addition work with the corporate to carry out school security assessments. Armoured One CEO Tom Czyz mentioned his staff is aware of what to look for when it assesses a school’s vulnerability.

“They’re taking a look at methods to slow down an attacker and pace up police response,” Czyz said. “How will we slow him down -- and then speed up the response that may stop him.”

Duval County Public Faculties Superintendent Dr. Diana Greene and Duval County Faculty Police Department Chief Greg Burton say security and safety are high of thoughts day by day.

What I want to be frequent is that our households know that we are ready each and every day. And that’s what we work towards being a greater school district as it relates to security and safety,” Inexperienced said.

Burton mentioned, “I would say the one phrase that summarizes all the pieces that we do is vigilance.”

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

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As far as the fee, it’s unclear right now, because the partnership is still being worked out.

Duval County voters accepted a half-cent sales tax in November 2020 with the particular function of replacing ageing colleges, repairing a massive backlog of maintenance points, and bolstering faculty safety.

Right now, 74 projects are in the design phase and 15 are underneath building.

As of January 2022, the tax has generated more than $118 million dollars, with more than $5.7 million already spent or allocated to projects under development.

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

Extra details about how that cash is planned to be spent in individual faculties can be discovered on the school district’s half-cent gross sales tax data dashboard.

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The following list of safety measures is revealed on the varsity district’s website:

Each college has a security plan and emergency response crew.

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

College plans are reviewed with workers every semester.

The district has a highly trained college police department, giving all schools direct access to school useful resource officers.

The district makes use of various major security monitoring strategies together with digicam surveillance and monitored managed access techniques.

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

All colleges conduct regular evacuation drills (fireplace drills).

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

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