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

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Town of Jacksonville and Duval County college district on Wednesday announced a brand new plan to keep youngsters safe in the classroom.

The school district hired a New York company named Armoured One, which specializes in doors and glass and claims it may possibly slow down or forestall a shooter from getting into a classroom.

Those are crucial elements after police in Texas determined the door accessed by the gunman at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde was closed but not locked. Originally, state police said a teacher left the door propped open. Investigators concluded the teacher really closed the door, but it didn’t lock mechanically like it was speculated to. The gunman shot and killed 19 students and two teachers earlier than he was killed by regulation enforcement.

Armoured One, which was based after the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting, is made up of former military and regulation enforcement brokers who examine mass taking pictures attacks and consult on school security measures.

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“We are going to first work collaboratively to establish where Armoured One sources can best praise the training already provided, adding their sources to the training instruments and assets the district already makes use of,” Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry stated Wednesday afternoon at a information conference at Metropolis Hall to announce the partnership.

Press the play button instantly below to look at the whole news conference.

The safety glass and movie that Armoured One invented can stand up to several hits -- whether that’s bullets, someone ramming into the glass or using different objects or weapons -- without breaking, which could sluggish an attacker. The doorways it uses have metallic framing, latch bolts and deadbolts.

Armoured One is also identified for offering lively shooter training and assessments. The company points individual reports for every building and recommends the most effective equipment to use for each facility it’s working with.

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Curry said he plans to seek out the funding for that training but also work with the corporate to perform college security assessments. Armoured One CEO Tom Czyz mentioned his staff is aware of what to look for when it assesses a college’s vulnerability.

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

Duval County Public Colleges Superintendent Dr. Diana Greene and Duval County School Police Division Chief Greg Burton say security and safety are top of thoughts each day.

What I want to be widespread is that our households know that we're ready each and every day. And that’s what we work in the direction of being a greater school district as it pertains to security and security,” Inexperienced said.

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

Greene said that the district’s best defense is its students and staff. She said she continues to encourage the varsity community to report anything they see that’s suspicious.

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

Duval County voters approved a half-cent gross sales tax in November 2020 with the specific goal of changing growing old schools, repairing a massive backlog of upkeep issues, and bolstering college safety.

Proper now, 74 projects are within the design part and 15 are underneath building.

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 underneath building.

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

Extra details about how that money is deliberate to be spent in particular person schools could be found on the college district’s half-cent sales tax data dashboard.

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The next record of safety measures is printed on the college district’s web site:

Each faculty has a safety plan and emergency response workforce.

All school classrooms are locked when occupied by college students.

Faculty plans are reviewed with workers each semester.

The district has a extremely skilled college police department, giving all schools direct entry to highschool useful resource officers.

The district makes use of various major safety monitoring strategies including digicam surveillance and monitored controlled access techniques.

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

All colleges conduct common evacuation drills (fire drills).

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

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