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

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Town of Jacksonville and Duval County school district on Wednesday announced a brand new plan to keep children safe 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 might probably slow down or stop a shooter from getting right into a classroom.

These are essential components after police in Texas determined the door accessed by the gunman at Robb Elementary College in Uvalde was closed but not locked. Initially, state police stated a teacher left the door propped open. Investigators concluded the trainer actually closed the door, however it didn’t lock automatically like it was presupposed to. The gunman shot and killed 19 college students and two lecturers earlier than he was killed by legislation enforcement.

Armoured One, which was based after the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting, is made up of former army and regulation enforcement agents who study mass capturing assaults and seek the advice of on college security measures.

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“We are going to first work collaboratively to establish where Armoured One sources can finest praise the training already offered, including their assets to the training tools and assets the district already uses,” Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry mentioned Wednesday afternoon at a information conference at Metropolis Corridor to announce the partnership.

Press the play button immediately beneath to look at the entire information conference.

The security glass and movie that Armoured One invented can face up to a number of hits -- whether that’s bullets, somebody ramming into the glass or utilizing different objects or weapons -- with out breaking, which might gradual an attacker. The doors it uses have metallic framing, latch bolts and deadbolts.

Armoured One can also be known for offering active shooter coaching and assessments. The company issues particular person stories for each building and recommends the most effective gear to make use of for every facility it’s working with.

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Curry said he plans to seek out the funding for that training but in addition work with the corporate to carry out faculty safety assessments. Armoured One CEO Tom Czyz stated his workforce knows what to search 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 can we slow him down -- and then pace up the response that would stop him.”

Duval County Public Colleges Superintendent Dr. Diana Greene and Duval County Faculty Police Division Chief Greg Burton say security and safety are prime of mind on daily basis.

What I wish 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 better faculty district because it relates to security and security,” Inexperienced said.

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

Greene said that the district’s greatest protection is its college students and workers. She stated she continues to encourage the varsity neighborhood to report something they see that’s suspicious.

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So far as the associated fee, it’s unclear right now, as the partnership continues to be being worked out.

Duval County voters authorized a half-cent gross sales tax in November 2020 with the specific function of changing ageing faculties, repairing an enormous backlog of maintenance issues, and bolstering school safety.

Right now, 74 initiatives are in the design phase and 15 are under construction.

As of January 2022, the tax has generated greater than $118 million dollars, with greater than $5.7 million already spent or allocated to initiatives beneath building.

Over its 15-year life, the gross sales tax is projected to generate $64.9 million for the particular objective of upgrading college security in DCPS faculties.

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

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The next listing of safety measures is published on the school district’s web site:

Every school has a security plan and emergency response team.

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

School plans are reviewed with staff every semester.

The district has a highly skilled faculty police division, giving all faculties direct access to high school useful resource officers.

The district makes use of numerous main safety monitoring methods together with digicam surveillance and monitored controlled access systems.

All colleges and district workplaces have a District Emergency Communications Community radio with direct entry to highschool police and district leadership. College Police have direct access to JSO.

All faculties conduct regular evacuation drills (fire drills).

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

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