City, DCPS proclaims partnership with firm specializing in security doors, glass

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

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

These are essential components after police in Texas decided the door accessed by the gunman at Robb Elementary Faculty in Uvalde was closed however not locked. Initially, state police stated a instructor left the door propped open. Investigators concluded the trainer actually closed the door, however it didn’t lock robotically prefer it was speculated to. The gunman shot and killed 19 students and two academics earlier than he was killed by legislation enforcement.

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

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“We are going to first work collaboratively to determine the place Armoured One assets can greatest praise the coaching already offered, adding their resources to the training tools and sources the district already uses,” Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry stated Wednesday afternoon at a news conference at Metropolis Hall to announce the partnership.

Press the play button immediately below to observe all the information conference.

The safety glass and movie that Armoured One invented can face up to a number of hits -- whether or not that’s bullets, someone 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 metallic framing, latch bolts and deadbolts.

Armoured One is also recognized for providing lively shooter training and assessments. The corporate points particular person experiences for every building and recommends the best tools to make use of for each facility it’s working with.

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

“They’re methods to slow down an attacker and speed up police response,” Czyz mentioned. “How do we slow him down -- and then pace up the response that may stop him.”

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

What I want to be common is that our households know that we are ready each and every day. And that’s what we work in direction of being a better college district because it relates to safety and security,” Inexperienced said.

Burton mentioned, “I'd say the one word that summarizes all the pieces that we do is vigilance.”

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

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

Duval County voters permitted a half-cent gross sales tax in November 2020 with the specific goal of replacing getting old colleges, repairing a massive backlog of upkeep issues, and bolstering faculty security.

Right now, 74 projects are within the design section and 15 are below building.

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

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

More information about how that money is planned to be spent in particular person faculties may be discovered on the school district’s half-cent gross sales tax info dashboard.

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The next list of security measures is revealed on the school district’s web site:

Each college has a security plan and emergency response staff.

All school school rooms are locked when occupied by students.

College plans are reviewed with workers each semester.

The district has a extremely educated school police department, giving all schools direct entry to highschool useful resource officers.

The district utilizes numerous main security monitoring methods together with digicam surveillance and monitored managed access systems.

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

All faculties conduct regular evacuation drills (fire drills).

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

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