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

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Town of Jacksonville and Duval County school district on Wednesday introduced a brand new plan to maintain children secure in the classroom.

The varsity district hired a New York company named Armoured One, which focuses on doorways and glass and claims it can slow down or prevent a shooter from getting right into a classroom.

Those are essential elements after police in Texas decided the door accessed by the gunman at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde was closed but not locked. Initially, state police stated a instructor left the door propped open. Investigators concluded the teacher actually closed the door, nevertheless it didn’t lock automatically like it was purported to. The gunman shot and killed 19 students and two academics before he was killed by legislation enforcement.

Armoured One, which was based after the Sandy Hook Elementary Faculty shooting, is made up of former military and regulation enforcement agents who examine mass taking pictures assaults and consult on faculty safety measures.

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“We will first work collaboratively to determine the place Armoured One resources can finest compliment the coaching already offered, adding their assets to the coaching instruments and sources the district already makes use of,” Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry said Wednesday afternoon at a news convention at Metropolis Hall to announce the partnership.

Press the play button instantly below to watch the complete information conference.

The safety glass and movie that Armoured One invented can stand up to several hits -- whether or not that’s bullets, someone ramming into the glass or using different objects or weapons -- with out breaking, which could gradual an attacker. The doorways it uses have metal framing, latch bolts and deadbolts.

Armoured One can also be known for providing energetic shooter training and assessments. The corporate issues individual reports 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 stated he plans to find the funding for that coaching but additionally work with the company to carry out school safety assessments. Armoured One CEO Tom Czyz said his crew knows what to look for when it assesses a college’s vulnerability.

“They’re looking at ways to slow down an attacker and velocity up police response,” Czyz stated. “How can we gradual him down -- and then speed up the response that might cease him.”

Duval County Public Faculties Superintendent Dr. Diana Greene and Duval County College Police Department Chief Greg Burton say safety and security are prime of thoughts every day.

What I want to be widespread is that our families know that we are ready each and every day. And that’s what we work in the direction of being a better school district because it pertains to security and safety,” Green stated.

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

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

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As far as the associated fee, it’s unclear proper now, because the partnership remains to be being worked out.

Duval County voters accepted a half-cent sales tax in November 2020 with the specific goal of replacing getting old colleges, repairing an enormous backlog of maintenance issues, and bolstering college safety.

Proper now, 74 tasks are in the design section and 15 are under development.

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 development.

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

Extra details about how that cash is planned to be spent in individual faculties will be found on the school district’s half-cent gross sales tax information dashboard.

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The next checklist of security measures is printed on the school district’s web site:

Every school has a safety plan and emergency response group.

All school school rooms are locked when occupied by students.

Faculty plans are reviewed with employees every semester.

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

The district makes use of various main security monitoring methods together with digital camera surveillance and monitored managed entry programs.

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

All faculties conduct regular evacuation drills (fire drills).

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

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