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

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Town of Jacksonville and Duval County faculty district on Wednesday announced a new plan to maintain kids safe within the classroom.

The school district employed a New York firm named Armoured One, which specializes in doorways and glass and claims it might decelerate or stop a shooter from getting right into a classroom.

Those are crucial components after police in Texas decided the door accessed by the gunman at Robb Elementary Faculty in Uvalde was closed however not locked. Originally, state police mentioned a instructor left the door propped open. Investigators concluded the teacher truly closed the door, nevertheless it didn’t lock routinely prefer it was presupposed to. The gunman shot and killed 19 students and two lecturers earlier than he was killed by legislation enforcement.

Armoured One, which was based after the Sandy Hook Elementary College capturing, is made up of former army and regulation enforcement agents who examine mass taking pictures assaults and consult on college security measures.

Ad

“We are going to first work collaboratively to determine the place Armoured One sources can greatest praise the coaching already provided, adding their sources to the coaching instruments and resources the district already uses,” Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry mentioned Wednesday afternoon at a information convention at City Hall to announce the partnership.

Press the play button immediately beneath to observe your entire information conference.

The security glass and movie that Armoured One invented can face up to several hits -- whether that’s bullets, somebody ramming into the glass or utilizing different objects or weapons -- without breaking, which could slow an attacker. The doorways it makes use of have steel framing, latch bolts and deadbolts.

Armoured One can also be known for providing active shooter coaching and assessments. The corporate issues individual studies for every building and recommends the most effective gear to make use of for each facility it’s working with.

Advert

Curry stated he plans to find the funding for that training but also work with the company to carry out school safety assessments. Armoured One CEO Tom Czyz stated his group is aware of what to look for when it assesses a school’s vulnerability.

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

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

What I wish to be frequent is that our families know that we're ready every day. And that’s what we work towards being a greater school district because it relates to security and security,” Green said.

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

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

Ad

So far as the cost, it’s unclear right now, because the partnership remains to be being labored out.

Duval County voters accepted a half-cent gross sales tax in November 2020 with the precise function of replacing getting older schools, repairing a large backlog of upkeep issues, and bolstering college security.

Right now, 74 tasks are in the design phase and 15 are below building.

As of January 2022, the tax has generated more than $118 million dollars, with more than $5.7 million already spent or allotted to initiatives under construction.

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

More information about how that cash is planned to be spent in individual schools can be discovered on the college district’s half-cent sales tax information dashboard.

Ad

The next checklist of security measures is published on the varsity district’s website:

Every school has a security plan and emergency response workforce.

All faculty lecture rooms are locked when occupied by college students.

College plans are reviewed with workers each semester.

The district has a highly educated faculty police division, giving all schools direct entry to highschool resource officers.

The district utilizes numerous main security monitoring strategies together with digital camera surveillance and monitored controlled entry programs.

All schools and district workplaces have a District Emergency Communications Network radio with direct entry to high school police and district leadership. School Police have direct access to JSO.

All colleges conduct common evacuation drills (hearth drills).

All schools conduct regular emergency and lockdown (“code purple” and “code yellow”) drills.

Copyright 2022 by WJXT News4JAX - All rights reserved.