City, DCPS declares partnership with firm specializing in safety doorways, glass

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Town of Jacksonville and Duval County school district on Wednesday announced a new plan to maintain youngsters protected within the classroom.

The college district employed a New York firm named Armoured One, which specializes in doorways and glass and claims it could decelerate or stop a shooter from getting right into a classroom.

Those 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. Originally, state police mentioned a teacher left the door propped open. Investigators concluded the instructor really closed the door, nevertheless it didn’t lock routinely prefer it was imagined to. The gunman shot and killed 19 students and two teachers before he was killed by legislation enforcement.

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

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

Press the play button instantly below to observe the complete information convention.

The security glass and film that Armoured One invented can stand up to several hits -- whether or not that’s bullets, somebody ramming into the glass or utilizing other objects or weapons -- without breaking, which could slow an attacker. The doors it uses have metal framing, latch bolts and deadbolts.

Armoured One is also recognized for offering active shooter coaching and assessments. The corporate issues particular person stories for each constructing and recommends the perfect 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 training but in addition work with the corporate to perform college safety assessments. Armoured One CEO Tom Czyz said his workforce knows what to look for when it assesses a faculty’s vulnerability.

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

Duval County Public Colleges Superintendent Dr. Diana Greene and Duval County College Police Division Chief Greg Burton say safety and security are prime of mind every single day.

What I wish to be widespread is that our households know that we're ready every day. And that’s what we work in direction of being a better faculty district as it relates to safety and safety,” Green stated.

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

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

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So far as the fee, it’s unclear proper now, as the partnership is still being labored out.

Duval County voters approved a half-cent sales tax in November 2020 with the particular purpose of replacing growing older faculties, repairing an enormous backlog of upkeep issues, and bolstering college security.

Proper now, 74 initiatives are within the design section and 15 are beneath building.

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

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

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

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

Each faculty has a safety plan and emergency response staff.

All college school rooms are locked when occupied by students.

College plans are reviewed with staff each semester.

The district has a extremely educated faculty police division, giving all colleges direct access to high school useful resource officers.

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

All colleges and district offices have a District Emergency Communications Community radio with direct entry to highschool police and district leadership. Faculty Police have direct entry to JSO.

All schools conduct common evacuation drills (hearth drills).

All colleges conduct common emergency and lockdown (“code red” and “code yellow”) drills.

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