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

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

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

These are essential factors after police in Texas decided the door accessed by the gunman at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde was closed but not locked. Originally, state police mentioned a teacher left the door propped open. Investigators concluded the teacher actually closed the door, nevertheless it didn’t lock robotically prefer it was alleged to. The gunman shot and killed 19 college students and two lecturers before he was killed by regulation enforcement.

Armoured One, which was founded after the Sandy Hook Elementary College shooting, is made up of former army and regulation enforcement agents who research mass shooting assaults and consult on faculty safety measures.

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“We'll first work collaboratively to identify where Armoured One assets can finest praise the coaching already offered, adding their sources to the coaching tools and assets the district already makes use of,” Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry said Wednesday afternoon at a news conference at City Corridor to announce the partnership.

Press the play button straight below to watch the entire news conference.

The security glass and movie that Armoured One invented can stand up to several hits -- whether that’s bullets, somebody ramming into the glass or using other objects or weapons -- with out breaking, which may gradual an attacker. The doors it makes use of have metallic framing, latch bolts and deadbolts.

Armoured One can be identified for offering active shooter coaching and assessments. The corporate points particular person reports for each constructing and recommends one of the best 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 company to perform college security assessments. Armoured One CEO Tom Czyz stated his crew is aware of what to look for when it assesses a school’s vulnerability.

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

Duval County Public Colleges Superintendent Dr. Diana Greene and Duval County Faculty Police Department Chief Greg Burton say safety and security are prime of mind day by day.

What I want to be widespread is that our households know that we are prepared each and every day. And that’s what we work towards being a greater faculty district as it pertains to safety and safety,” Green stated.

Burton mentioned, “I'd say the one phrase that summarizes every part that we do is vigilance.”

Greene said that the district’s finest defense is its college students and workers. She stated she continues to encourage the varsity group to report anything they see that’s suspicious.

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

Duval County voters authorised a half-cent sales tax in November 2020 with the particular goal of changing getting old faculties, repairing a large backlog of maintenance issues, and bolstering faculty security.

Right now, 74 projects are in the design phase and 15 are beneath construction.

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

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

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

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

Every school has a security plan and emergency response group.

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

School plans are reviewed with employees every semester.

The district has a extremely trained school police department, giving all colleges direct access to highschool resource officers.

The district makes use of various main security monitoring methods including digicam surveillance and monitored controlled access methods.

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

All schools conduct regular evacuation drills (fireplace drills).

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

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