City, DCPS pronounces partnership with company specializing in security doorways, glass

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The city of Jacksonville and Duval County faculty district on Wednesday introduced a new plan to keep children secure in the classroom.

The school district hired a New York company named Armoured One, which focuses on doors and glass and claims it can slow down or forestall a shooter from getting into a classroom.

These are essential elements after police in Texas decided the door accessed by the gunman at Robb Elementary College in Uvalde was closed however not locked. Initially, state police mentioned a teacher left the door propped open. Investigators concluded the trainer actually closed the door, but it didn’t lock mechanically prefer it was alleged to. The gunman shot and killed 19 students and two academics earlier than he was killed by legislation enforcement.

Armoured One, which was based after the Sandy Hook Elementary College capturing, is made up of former military and law enforcement brokers who study mass shooting attacks and consult on faculty security measures.

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“We will first work collaboratively to determine the place Armoured One sources can finest compliment the coaching already offered, adding their sources to the training tools and resources the district already uses,” Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry said Wednesday afternoon at a news conference at Metropolis Corridor to announce the partnership.

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The safety glass and film that Armoured One invented can withstand several hits -- whether or not that’s bullets, somebody ramming into the glass or using other objects or weapons -- with out breaking, which might sluggish an attacker. The doors it uses have metal framing, latch bolts and deadbolts.

Armoured One is also known for offering active shooter training and assessments. The corporate points particular person stories for each constructing and recommends the perfect gear to use for each facility it’s working with.

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Curry said he plans to find the funding for that training but in addition work with the corporate to perform school safety assessments. Armoured One CEO Tom Czyz stated his group is aware of what to search for when it assesses a college’s vulnerability.

“They’re looking at ways to slow down an attacker and speed up police response,” Czyz said. “How do we slow him down -- and then velocity up the response that might stop him.”

Duval County Public Faculties Superintendent Dr. Diana Greene and Duval County Faculty Police Department Chief Greg Burton say security and safety are top of mind on daily basis.

What I need to be common is that our households know that we are prepared each day. And that’s what we work towards being a greater school district because it relates to safety and security,” Green mentioned.

Burton said, “I would say the one phrase that summarizes the whole lot that we do is vigilance.”

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

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As far as the associated fee, it’s unclear proper now, as the partnership is still being labored out.

Duval County voters accepted a half-cent sales tax in November 2020 with the precise objective of replacing ageing schools, repairing a large backlog of upkeep issues, and bolstering faculty security.

Proper now, 74 projects are in the design section and 15 are below building.

As of January 2022, the tax has generated greater than $118 million dollars, with more than $5.7 million already spent or allotted to tasks under 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 schools.

More details about how that money is planned to be spent in individual schools could be found on the college district’s half-cent sales tax data dashboard.

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The next record of security measures is printed on the school district’s website:

Each school has a security plan and emergency response staff.

All school classrooms are locked when occupied by students.

Faculty plans are reviewed with employees each semester.

The district has a extremely educated faculty police department, giving all schools direct access to highschool useful resource officers.

The district utilizes numerous major security monitoring methods together with camera surveillance and monitored managed entry techniques.

All schools and district places of work have a District Emergency Communications Network radio with direct entry to high school police and district management. Faculty Police have direct access to JSO.

All schools conduct regular evacuation drills (fireplace drills).

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

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