Metropolis, DCPS announces partnership with firm specializing in security doorways, glass

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

The school district hired a New York firm named Armoured One, which focuses on doorways and glass and claims it might slow down or stop a shooter from getting into a classroom.

These are essential components after police in Texas determined the door accessed by the gunman at Robb Elementary Faculty in Uvalde was closed but not locked. Originally, state police stated a trainer left the door propped open. Investigators concluded the trainer actually closed the door, nevertheless it didn’t lock routinely prefer it was speculated to. The gunman shot and killed 19 students and two lecturers earlier than he was killed by regulation enforcement.

Armoured One, which was based after the Sandy Hook Elementary College capturing, is made up of former navy and law enforcement agents who research mass shooting attacks and consult on college security measures.

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“We will first work collaboratively to establish where Armoured One assets can finest praise the training already provided, including their assets to the training tools and sources the district already uses,” Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry stated Wednesday afternoon at a news convention at City Hall to announce the partnership.

Press the play button directly below to observe your complete 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, somebody ramming into the glass or using different objects or weapons -- with out breaking, which could slow an attacker. The doorways it makes use of have metal framing, latch bolts and deadbolts.

Armoured One can be identified for offering lively shooter coaching and assessments. The company issues individual experiences for each building and recommends the very 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 in addition work with the company to carry out faculty safety assessments. Armoured One CEO Tom Czyz stated his team knows what to search for when it assesses a college’s vulnerability.

“They’re ways to decelerate an attacker and speed up police response,” Czyz mentioned. “How will we sluggish him down -- and then velocity up the response that may stop him.”

Duval County Public Colleges Superintendent Dr. Diana Greene and Duval County Faculty Police Department Chief Greg Burton say security and safety are high of thoughts on daily basis.

What I wish to be frequent 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 security,” Green mentioned.

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

Greene mentioned that the district’s finest protection is its college students and staff. She mentioned she continues to encourage the college community to report something they see that’s suspicious.

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

Duval County voters permitted a half-cent sales tax in November 2020 with the precise purpose of replacing growing old faculties, repairing a massive backlog of maintenance points, and bolstering faculty security.

Right now, 74 initiatives are in the design section and 15 are beneath 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 school safety in DCPS faculties.

More details about how that cash is deliberate to be spent in individual colleges will be discovered on the college district’s half-cent sales tax info dashboard.

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The following listing of safety measures is revealed on the college district’s website:

Each college has a safety plan and emergency response workforce.

All school classrooms are locked when occupied by college students.

College plans are reviewed with employees each semester.

The district has a highly trained college police division, giving all colleges direct entry to highschool resource officers.

The district makes use of various major safety monitoring methods including digicam surveillance and monitored managed entry systems.

All faculties and district offices have a District Emergency Communications Network radio with direct entry to high school police and district management. School Police have direct access to JSO.

All faculties conduct common evacuation drills (fire drills).

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

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