Metropolis, DCPS declares partnership with firm specializing in safety doorways, glass

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

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

These are essential components after police in Texas decided the door accessed by the gunman at Robb Elementary Faculty in Uvalde was closed but not locked. Initially, state police said a instructor left the door propped open. Investigators concluded the trainer actually closed the door, but it didn’t lock mechanically prefer it was supposed to. The gunman shot and killed 19 students and two lecturers earlier than he was killed by regulation enforcement.

Armoured One, which was founded after the Sandy Hook Elementary Faculty taking pictures, is made up of former army and legislation enforcement agents who research mass taking pictures assaults and seek the advice of on faculty safety measures.

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“We'll first work collaboratively to identify where Armoured One sources can finest compliment the coaching already offered, adding their assets to the training tools and assets the district already makes use of,” Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry said Wednesday afternoon at a news conference at Metropolis Hall to announce the partnership.

Press the play button immediately under to observe the complete news convention.

The security glass and movie that Armoured One invented can stand up to a number of hits -- whether that’s bullets, somebody ramming into the glass or utilizing other objects or weapons -- without breaking, which could slow an attacker. The doorways it uses have metallic framing, latch bolts and deadbolts.

Armoured One can also be known for providing lively shooter training and assessments. The corporate issues particular person reviews for every building and recommends the very best gear to use for every facility it’s working with.

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Curry said he plans to find the funding for that training but also work with the company to perform school safety assessments. Armoured One CEO Tom Czyz said his team knows what to search for when it assesses a college’s vulnerability.

“They’re taking a look at ways to slow down an attacker and speed up police response,” Czyz said. “How can we slow him down -- and then velocity up the response that will cease him.”

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

What I want to be widespread is that our families know that we are prepared each day. And that’s what we work in direction of being a better faculty district as it relates to safety and safety,” Green said.

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

Greene said that the district’s finest defense is its college students and staff. She said she continues to encourage the college community to report anything they see that’s suspicious.

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

Duval County voters accepted a half-cent gross sales tax in November 2020 with the precise objective of replacing getting older colleges, repairing an enormous backlog of upkeep issues, and bolstering faculty security.

Proper now, 74 projects are in the design phase 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 allotted to tasks beneath construction.

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

Extra information about how that cash is deliberate to be spent in particular person schools may be found on the varsity district’s half-cent sales tax info dashboard.

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The next checklist of security measures is printed on the college district’s web site:

Every college has a safety plan and emergency response team.

All college classrooms are locked when occupied by students.

College plans are reviewed with workers every semester.

The district has a highly skilled faculty police department, giving all faculties direct entry to highschool resource officers.

The district makes use of numerous main safety monitoring methods together with digicam surveillance and monitored managed entry programs.

All colleges and district workplaces have a District Emergency Communications Community radio with direct entry to school police and district management. Faculty Police have direct access to JSO.

All schools conduct regular evacuation drills (fireplace drills).

All faculties conduct common emergency and lockdown (“code pink” and “code yellow”) drills.

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