Metropolis, DCPS publicizes partnership with company specializing in security doors, glass

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

The school district employed a New York firm named Armoured One, which makes a speciality of doors and glass and claims it will possibly slow down or forestall 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 however not locked. Initially, state police said a instructor left the door propped open. Investigators concluded the teacher actually closed the door, but it didn’t lock automatically prefer it was alleged to. The gunman shot and killed 19 college students and two teachers before he was killed by legislation enforcement.

Armoured One, which was founded after the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting, is made up of former navy and legislation enforcement brokers who examine mass capturing attacks and consult on college safety measures.

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“We will first work collaboratively to determine the place Armoured One assets can finest praise the coaching already supplied, including their resources to the training tools and assets the district already uses,” Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry mentioned Wednesday afternoon at a news conference at Metropolis Hall to announce the partnership.

Press the play button immediately beneath to look at the complete news convention.

The security glass and movie that Armoured One invented can stand up to a number of hits -- whether that’s bullets, someone ramming into the glass or utilizing other objects or weapons -- without breaking, which could sluggish an attacker. The doorways it uses have metal framing, latch bolts and deadbolts.

Armoured One can also be recognized for providing lively shooter training and assessments. The company points individual reports for every building and recommends the most effective tools to use for every facility it’s working with.

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Curry stated he plans to find the funding for that training but also work with the corporate to perform college safety assessments. Armoured One CEO Tom Czyz stated his group is aware of what to look for when it assesses a school’s vulnerability.

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

Duval County Public Faculties Superintendent Dr. Diana Greene and Duval County School Police Division Chief Greg Burton say safety and security are prime of mind each day.

What I need to be widespread is that our households know that we are ready each and every day. And that’s what we work towards being a better school district as it pertains to safety and security,” Inexperienced said.

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

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

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

Duval County voters authorised a half-cent sales tax in November 2020 with the precise objective of replacing growing older faculties, repairing an enormous backlog of upkeep points, and bolstering college security.

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

As of January 2022, the tax has generated more than $118 million dollars, with more than $5.7 million already spent or allocated to projects below development.

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

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

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The following listing of safety measures is printed on the varsity district’s web site:

Each faculty has a safety plan and emergency response crew.

All faculty classrooms are locked when occupied by college students.

Faculty plans are reviewed with employees each semester.

The district has a extremely trained college police division, giving all colleges direct entry to high school useful resource officers.

The district utilizes varied main safety monitoring methods including digicam surveillance and monitored managed access methods.

All schools and district workplaces have a District Emergency Communications Community radio with direct entry to school police and district management. School Police have direct access to JSO.

All schools conduct regular evacuation drills (fireplace drills).

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

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