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

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

The varsity district employed a New York company named Armoured One, which makes a speciality of doors and glass and claims it will probably decelerate or stop a shooter from getting right into a classroom.

Those are crucial factors after police in Texas determined the door accessed by the gunman at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde was closed but not locked. Initially, state police mentioned a trainer left the door propped open. Investigators concluded the trainer truly closed the door, but it didn’t lock automatically like it was speculated to. The gunman shot and killed 19 college students and two academics earlier than he was killed by law enforcement.

Armoured One, which was based after the Sandy Hook Elementary Faculty capturing, is made up of former navy and legislation enforcement agents who examine mass shooting assaults and consult on faculty safety measures.

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“We'll first work collaboratively to establish the place Armoured One assets can best praise the training already provided, adding their assets to the coaching tools and assets the district already uses,” Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry said Wednesday afternoon at a information conference at City Hall to announce the partnership.

Press the play button instantly beneath to watch the entire information convention.

The safety glass and movie that Armoured One invented can stand up to several hits -- whether or not that’s bullets, someone ramming into the glass or utilizing different objects or weapons -- without breaking, which might gradual an attacker. The doors it makes use of have metal framing, latch bolts and deadbolts.

Armoured One is also recognized for providing energetic shooter training and assessments. The corporate points particular person experiences for each building and recommends the very best gear to use for every facility it’s working with.

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

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

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

What I need to be widespread is that our households know that we're prepared each and every day. And that’s what we work in the direction of being a greater faculty district because it relates to security and safety,” Green said.

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

Greene said that the district’s greatest defense is its college students and employees. She stated she continues to encourage the school group to report anything they see that’s suspicious.

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

Duval County voters authorized a half-cent sales tax in November 2020 with the specific goal of changing getting old schools, repairing a massive backlog of maintenance points, and bolstering college safety.

Right now, 74 tasks 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 projects underneath construction.

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

More information about how that money is deliberate to be spent in individual faculties could be found on the college district’s half-cent gross sales tax data dashboard.

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The next listing of security measures is published on the varsity district’s website:

Every school has a safety plan and emergency response group.

All college classrooms are locked when occupied by college students.

School plans are reviewed with staff each semester.

The district has a extremely skilled college police division, giving all faculties direct entry to highschool resource officers.

The district makes use of various main security monitoring methods together with digicam surveillance and monitored controlled entry programs.

All schools and district workplaces have a District Emergency Communications Community radio with direct access to high school police and district management. College Police have direct access to JSO.

All schools conduct regular evacuation drills (fire drills).

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

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