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

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

The college district hired a New York company named Armoured One, which specializes in doors and glass and claims it may decelerate or stop a shooter from getting right into a classroom.

These are crucial factors after police in Texas determined the door accessed by the gunman at Robb Elementary College in Uvalde was closed however not locked. Initially, state police said a instructor left the door propped open. Investigators concluded the trainer truly closed the door, nevertheless it didn’t lock mechanically like it was alleged to. The gunman shot and killed 19 college students and two teachers earlier than he was killed by law enforcement.

Armoured One, which was based after the Sandy Hook Elementary Faculty shooting, is made up of former army and regulation enforcement agents who research mass taking pictures attacks and consult on school security measures.

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“We will first work collaboratively to determine the place Armoured One assets can greatest praise the training already offered, adding their resources to the coaching tools and resources the district already makes use of,” Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry mentioned Wednesday afternoon at a information convention at Metropolis Corridor to announce the partnership.

Press the play button instantly under to observe the complete information conference.

The safety glass and movie that Armoured One invented can withstand a number of hits -- whether that’s bullets, someone ramming into the glass or utilizing other objects or weapons -- with out breaking, which may sluggish an attacker. The doors it makes use of have metallic framing, latch bolts and deadbolts.

Armoured One can be identified for offering energetic shooter coaching and assessments. The company points particular person studies for each constructing and recommends the best equipment to make use of for every facility it’s working with.

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Curry stated he plans to seek out the funding for that coaching but in addition work with the company to carry out school safety assessments. Armoured One CEO Tom Czyz mentioned his team knows what to look for when it assesses a school’s vulnerability.

“They’re looking at methods to decelerate an attacker and speed up police response,” Czyz stated. “How will we gradual 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 safety and security are top of thoughts day by day.

What I want to be common is that our households know that we're prepared each and every day. And that’s what we work towards being a better college district because it relates to safety and security,” Green said.

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

Greene stated that the district’s finest defense is its college students and workers. She mentioned she continues to encourage the college community to report anything they see that’s suspicious.

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As far as the fee, it’s unclear right now, as the partnership continues to be being labored out.

Duval County voters accredited a half-cent gross sales tax in November 2020 with the particular function of changing growing old colleges, repairing an enormous backlog of maintenance points, and bolstering faculty security.

Proper now, 74 initiatives are within the design phase and 15 are beneath construction.

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

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

Extra details about how that cash is deliberate to be spent in particular person colleges could be discovered on the college district’s half-cent gross sales tax info dashboard.

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The following checklist of safety measures is revealed on the varsity district’s website:

Every school has a security plan and emergency response workforce.

All faculty school rooms are locked when occupied by college students.

School plans are reviewed with workers every semester.

The district has a highly educated school police division, giving all faculties direct access to high school useful resource officers.

The district makes use of varied major safety monitoring methods including digicam surveillance and monitored managed access methods.

All faculties and district offices have a District Emergency Communications Network radio with direct access to highschool police and district management. Faculty Police have direct entry to JSO.

All schools conduct common evacuation drills (fireplace drills).

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

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