City, DCPS announces partnership with firm specializing in security doors, glass

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The city of Jacksonville and Duval County faculty district on Wednesday introduced a brand new plan to keep youngsters protected within the classroom.

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

These are essential factors after police in Texas decided the door accessed by the gunman at Robb Elementary College in Uvalde was closed but not locked. Initially, state police said a instructor left the door propped open. Investigators concluded the teacher really closed the door, however it didn’t lock robotically like it was presupposed to. The gunman shot and killed 19 college students and two teachers earlier than he was killed by regulation enforcement.

Armoured One, which was based after the Sandy Hook Elementary College capturing, is made up of former military and law enforcement brokers who research mass taking pictures assaults and seek the advice of on school security measures.

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“We are going to first work collaboratively to determine the place Armoured One sources can best praise the training already offered, adding their assets to the training instruments and assets the district already makes use of,” Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry said Wednesday afternoon at a information conference at City Corridor to announce the partnership.

Press the play button instantly below to look at your complete information conference.

The safety glass and film that Armoured One invented can withstand several hits -- whether that’s bullets, someone ramming into the glass or utilizing different objects or weapons -- with out breaking, which could slow an attacker. The doorways it makes use of have metal framing, latch bolts and deadbolts.

Armoured One can also be recognized for offering lively shooter coaching and assessments. The company issues individual experiences for every constructing and recommends the most effective gear to use for every facility it’s working with.

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

“They’re methods to slow down an attacker and speed up police response,” Czyz stated. “How can we gradual him down -- after which pace up the response that will cease 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 every day.

What I wish to be widespread is that our households know that we are ready each day. And that’s what we work towards being a better faculty district as it pertains to safety and safety,” Green said.

Burton stated, “I would say the one word that summarizes all the things that we do is vigilance.”

Greene mentioned that the district’s best protection is its students and employees. She mentioned she continues to encourage the varsity neighborhood 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 worked out.

Duval County voters accredited a half-cent gross sales tax in November 2020 with the specific purpose of replacing getting older colleges, repairing an enormous backlog of maintenance issues, and bolstering school safety.

Right now, 74 tasks are in 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 initiatives below building.

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

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

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The following record of safety measures is printed on the school district’s website:

Each college has a safety plan and emergency response workforce.

All college classrooms are locked when occupied by students.

Faculty plans are reviewed with workers each semester.

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

The district utilizes varied major safety monitoring strategies together with camera surveillance and monitored managed access systems.

All faculties and district places of work have a District Emergency Communications Network radio with direct access to school police and district leadership. School Police have direct access to JSO.

All faculties conduct regular evacuation drills (hearth drills).

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

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