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

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Town of Jacksonville and Duval County faculty district on Wednesday announced a new plan to keep kids protected within the classroom.

The college district employed a New York firm named Armoured One, which focuses on doorways and glass and claims it may well decelerate 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 College in Uvalde was closed however not locked. Initially, state police mentioned a trainer left the door propped open. Investigators concluded the teacher really closed the door, but it didn’t lock routinely like it was alleged 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 School taking pictures, is made up of former military and regulation enforcement agents who study mass shooting attacks and consult on school security measures.

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“We will first work collaboratively to determine where Armoured One resources can greatest compliment the coaching already supplied, including their assets to the training 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 under to look at the entire information convention.

The security glass and film that Armoured One invented can withstand a number of hits -- whether or not that’s bullets, somebody ramming into the glass or using different objects or weapons -- without breaking, which might slow an attacker. The doors it makes use of have metal framing, latch bolts and deadbolts.

Armoured One is also known for providing energetic shooter coaching and assessments. The corporate issues particular person stories for each building and recommends the very best equipment to make use of for each facility it’s working with.

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

“They’re looking at methods to decelerate an attacker and pace up police response,” Czyz stated. “How will we slow him down -- after which speed up the response that may stop him.”

Duval County Public Colleges Superintendent Dr. Diana Greene and Duval County Faculty Police Division Chief Greg Burton say security and safety are high of mind each day.

What I need to be common is that our households know that we're prepared every day. And that’s what we work in the direction of being a better faculty district because it relates to security and security,” Inexperienced mentioned.

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

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

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As far as the cost, 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 particular purpose of changing growing old faculties, repairing an enormous backlog of maintenance points, and bolstering college security.

Proper now, 74 projects are in the design section 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 tasks beneath development.

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

More information about how that money is planned to be spent in particular person schools can be found on the school district’s half-cent sales tax info dashboard.

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The next list of security measures is revealed on the college district’s website:

Each college has a security plan and emergency response workforce.

All faculty classrooms are locked when occupied by college students.

College plans are reviewed with staff every semester.

The district has a extremely skilled faculty police division, giving all faculties direct entry to school useful resource officers.

The district makes use of numerous major security monitoring strategies together with digicam surveillance and monitored controlled entry programs.

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

All faculties conduct common evacuation drills (hearth drills).

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

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