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

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The city of Jacksonville and Duval County faculty district on Wednesday introduced a new plan to maintain kids protected in the classroom.

The college district employed a New York firm named Armoured One, which focuses on doors and glass and claims it could possibly decelerate or prevent a shooter from getting into a classroom.

These are essential elements 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 said a instructor left the door propped open. Investigators concluded the trainer really closed the door, but it didn’t lock routinely prefer it was imagined to. The gunman shot and killed 19 college students and two teachers before he was killed by law enforcement.

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

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“We will first work collaboratively to identify where Armoured One assets can best praise the training already offered, including their resources to the coaching instruments and assets the district already uses,” Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry said Wednesday afternoon at a information conference at Metropolis Hall to announce the partnership.

Press the play button immediately beneath to watch the complete information convention.

The safety glass and film that Armoured One invented can withstand several hits -- whether that’s bullets, somebody ramming into the glass or using other objects or weapons -- without breaking, which may gradual an attacker. The doorways it uses have metal framing, latch bolts and deadbolts.

Armoured One can be identified for offering lively shooter coaching and assessments. The corporate issues particular person studies for each constructing and recommends one of the best gear to make use of for each facility it’s working with.

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Curry stated he plans to seek out the funding for that coaching but also work with the company to carry out college security assessments. Armoured One CEO Tom Czyz said his group is aware of what to look for when it assesses a faculty’s vulnerability.

“They’re methods to decelerate an attacker and speed up police response,” Czyz mentioned. “How will we sluggish him down -- and then pace up the response that might cease him.”

Duval County Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Diana Greene and Duval County Faculty Police Department Chief Greg Burton say safety and security are high of mind every day.

What I wish to be common is that our families know that we're prepared every day. And that’s what we work in direction of being a better school district because it relates to safety and safety,” Inexperienced said.

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

Greene mentioned that the district’s greatest defense is its college students and employees. She mentioned she continues to encourage the college community to report anything they see that’s suspicious.

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

Duval County voters accepted a half-cent sales tax in November 2020 with the precise function of changing getting old schools, repairing an enormous backlog of upkeep points, and bolstering faculty security.

Right now, 74 initiatives are within the design phase and 15 are below development.

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

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

More details about how that money is planned to be spent in individual schools will be found on the varsity district’s half-cent sales tax info dashboard.

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

Every college has a security plan and emergency response staff.

All college school rooms are locked when occupied by students.

College plans are reviewed with staff each semester.

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

The district utilizes numerous major security monitoring methods together with digicam surveillance and monitored controlled entry programs.

All colleges and district places of work have a District Emergency Communications Community radio with direct entry to school police and district leadership. School Police have direct access to JSO.

All colleges conduct regular evacuation drills (fire drills).

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

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