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

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

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

These are crucial elements 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 said a instructor left the door propped open. Investigators concluded the instructor truly closed the door, however it didn’t lock mechanically like it was purported to. The gunman shot and killed 19 college students and two teachers earlier than he was killed by legislation enforcement.

Armoured One, which was based after the Sandy Hook Elementary College shooting, is made up of former navy and legislation enforcement agents who research mass shooting assaults and seek the advice of on school security measures.

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“We'll first work collaboratively to identify where Armoured One resources can greatest compliment the coaching already offered, adding their sources to the coaching tools and sources the district already uses,” Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry mentioned Wednesday afternoon at a information convention at Metropolis Hall to announce the partnership.

Press the play button directly beneath to watch your entire information convention.

The security glass and film that Armoured One invented can face up to several hits -- whether that’s bullets, someone ramming into the glass or utilizing other objects or weapons -- without breaking, which might gradual an attacker. The doorways it uses have metal framing, latch bolts and deadbolts.

Armoured One can also be recognized for providing active shooter coaching and assessments. The corporate points individual reviews for every constructing and recommends the best tools to use for each facility it’s working with.

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Curry said he plans to find the funding for that training but additionally work with the corporate to carry out faculty safety assessments. Armoured One CEO Tom Czyz mentioned his crew knows what to search for when it assesses a school’s vulnerability.

“They’re methods to slow down an attacker and velocity up police response,” Czyz mentioned. “How will we gradual him down -- and then speed up the response that might cease him.”

Duval County Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Diana Greene and Duval County Faculty Police Division Chief Greg Burton say security and safety are high of thoughts day-after-day.

What I wish to be frequent 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 because it relates to security and safety,” Inexperienced said.

Burton stated, “I might say the one phrase that summarizes everything that we do is vigilance.”

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

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So far as the price, it’s unclear right now, as the partnership is still being worked out.

Duval County voters authorised a half-cent sales tax in November 2020 with the precise function of changing ageing faculties, repairing a large backlog of maintenance points, and bolstering college safety.

Right now, 74 initiatives are in the design part and 15 are underneath construction.

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

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

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

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The following record of security measures is printed on the college district’s web site:

Each school has a safety plan and emergency response crew.

All college classrooms are locked when occupied by college students.

College plans are reviewed with workers each semester.

The district has a extremely educated faculty police department, giving all faculties direct access to school resource officers.

The district makes use of numerous major safety monitoring strategies together with digicam surveillance and monitored controlled access methods.

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

All colleges conduct regular evacuation drills (fire drills).

All colleges conduct regular emergency and lockdown (“code crimson” and “code yellow”) drills.

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