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

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

The college district employed a New York company named Armoured One, which specializes in doors and glass and claims it will possibly slow down or prevent a shooter from getting into a classroom.

Those are crucial components after police in Texas decided the door accessed by the gunman at Robb Elementary College in Uvalde was closed but not locked. Originally, state police mentioned a trainer left the door propped open. Investigators concluded the teacher really closed the door, but it surely didn’t lock mechanically like it was presupposed to. The gunman shot and killed 19 college students and two academics before he was killed by law enforcement.

Armoured One, which was based after the Sandy Hook Elementary Faculty shooting, is made up of former military and legislation enforcement brokers who study mass taking pictures attacks and consult on college safety measures.

Ad

“We'll first work collaboratively to establish the place Armoured One sources can greatest praise the coaching already offered, including their assets to the coaching instruments and resources the district already uses,” Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry said Wednesday afternoon at a information conference at Metropolis Hall to announce the partnership.

Press the play button immediately under to observe all the information conference.

The security glass and film that Armoured One invented can stand up to a number of hits -- whether or not that’s bullets, somebody ramming into the glass or using different objects or weapons -- without breaking, which may sluggish an attacker. The doorways it uses have metal framing, latch bolts and deadbolts.

Armoured One can be known for providing active shooter training and assessments. The company points individual reviews for every building and recommends one of the best gear to use for every facility it’s working with.

Advert

Curry mentioned he plans to find the funding for that training but also work with the corporate to perform college security assessments. Armoured One CEO Tom Czyz said his staff is aware of what to look for when it assesses a college’s vulnerability.

“They’re taking a look at methods to decelerate an attacker and pace up police response,” Czyz said. “How will we gradual him down -- after which velocity up the response that will stop him.”

Duval County Public Colleges Superintendent Dr. Diana Greene and Duval County School Police Department Chief Greg Burton say security and safety are prime of thoughts every day.

What I want to be widespread is that our families know that we're prepared each and every day. And that’s what we work in the direction of being a better school district as it pertains to security and safety,” Inexperienced stated.

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

Greene said that the district’s greatest defense is its students and workers. She mentioned she continues to encourage the varsity group to report anything they see that’s suspicious.

Ad

So far as the cost, it’s unclear proper now, because the partnership is still being labored out.

Duval County voters permitted a half-cent sales tax in November 2020 with the precise purpose of replacing growing older colleges, repairing a massive backlog of upkeep points, and bolstering school security.

Right now, 74 projects are within the design phase and 15 are below building.

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

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

Extra details about how that cash is planned to be spent in individual faculties will be discovered on the college district’s half-cent sales tax info dashboard.

Ad

The next list of safety measures is published on the varsity district’s website:

Each faculty has a security plan and emergency response crew.

All faculty school rooms are locked when occupied by students.

Faculty plans are reviewed with staff each semester.

The district has a highly skilled school police department, giving all colleges direct access to highschool resource officers.

The district utilizes varied major security monitoring strategies together with digital camera surveillance and monitored managed entry programs.

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

All schools conduct common evacuation drills (fireplace drills).

All schools conduct common emergency and lockdown (“code purple” and “code yellow”) drills.

Copyright 2022 by WJXT News4JAX - All rights reserved.