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

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

The college district hired a New York company named Armoured One, which makes a speciality of doors and glass and claims it may decelerate or forestall a shooter from getting into a classroom.

These 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. Originally, state police stated a teacher left the door propped open. Investigators concluded the teacher truly closed the door, but it surely didn’t lock mechanically like it was purported 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 School shooting, is made up of former military and legislation enforcement agents who examine mass taking pictures attacks and seek the advice of on faculty safety measures.

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“We are going to first work collaboratively to identify where Armoured One resources can finest praise the training already offered, including their resources to the training instruments and assets the district already makes use of,” Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry said Wednesday afternoon at a information conference at Metropolis Corridor to announce the partnership.

Press the play button instantly below to watch the entire news conference.

The safety glass and movie that Armoured One invented can withstand a number of hits -- whether or not that’s bullets, somebody ramming into the glass or utilizing other objects or weapons -- with out breaking, which could sluggish an attacker. The doors it uses have steel framing, latch bolts and deadbolts.

Armoured One is also known for offering energetic shooter training and assessments. The corporate points individual experiences for each building and recommends one of the best tools to use for each facility it’s working with.

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Curry stated he plans to find the funding for that coaching but additionally work with the corporate to perform college safety assessments. Armoured One CEO Tom Czyz said his staff knows what to search for when it assesses a faculty’s vulnerability.

“They’re taking a look at methods to decelerate an attacker and pace up police response,” Czyz said. “How will we sluggish him down -- and then pace up the response that will cease him.”

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

What I wish to be widespread is that our families know that we are ready every day. And that’s what we work towards being a better college district as it relates to security and security,” Inexperienced said.

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

Greene stated that the district’s finest protection is its students and employees. She stated she continues to encourage the varsity neighborhood to report anything they see that’s suspicious.

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

Duval County voters accepted a half-cent sales tax in November 2020 with the specific goal of changing growing old colleges, repairing a large backlog of upkeep points, and bolstering school security.

Right now, 74 projects are in the design section and 15 are under 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 projects under building.

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

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

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The next record of safety measures is revealed on the college district’s website:

Each school has a security plan and emergency response workforce.

All college classrooms are locked when occupied by students.

School plans are reviewed with workers every semester.

The district has a highly skilled college police department, giving all schools direct entry to high school resource officers.

The district makes use of numerous major security monitoring methods including digicam surveillance and monitored managed access techniques.

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

All colleges conduct common evacuation drills (fireplace drills).

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

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