Metropolis, DCPS announces partnership with company specializing in security doors, glass

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

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

Those are crucial components 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 instructor left the door propped open. Investigators concluded the instructor actually closed the door, but it surely didn’t lock routinely like it was supposed to. The gunman shot and killed 19 college students and two teachers earlier than he was killed by law enforcement.

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

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“We will first work collaboratively to identify where Armoured One assets can greatest praise the coaching already provided, including their assets to the coaching instruments and sources the district already uses,” Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry said Wednesday afternoon at a information convention at Metropolis Corridor to announce the partnership.

Press the play button instantly beneath to observe the entire news convention.

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

Armoured One is also known for offering lively shooter training and assessments. The company issues particular person reports for every constructing and recommends the best gear to make use of for every 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 school security assessments. Armoured One CEO Tom Czyz stated his staff knows what to look for when it assesses a faculty’s vulnerability.

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

Duval County Public Colleges Superintendent Dr. Diana Greene and Duval County Faculty Police Department Chief Greg Burton say safety and security are high of thoughts each day.

What I want to be widespread is that our households know that we are prepared every day. And that’s what we work in the direction of being a better college district as it relates to safety and safety,” Green stated.

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

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

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

Duval County voters approved a half-cent gross sales tax in November 2020 with the precise goal of changing aging faculties, repairing an enormous backlog of upkeep issues, and bolstering college safety.

Proper now, 74 projects are within the design section and 15 are beneath construction.

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

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

More details about how that money is deliberate to be spent in individual faculties might be discovered on the college district’s half-cent gross sales tax info dashboard.

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The following listing of safety measures is revealed on the varsity district’s website:

Every faculty has a security plan and emergency response staff.

All faculty school rooms are locked when occupied by students.

Faculty plans are reviewed with staff each semester.

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

The district makes use of numerous major safety monitoring methods together with camera surveillance and monitored controlled entry systems.

All colleges and district offices have a District Emergency Communications Network radio with direct access to high school police and district leadership. College Police have direct entry to JSO.

All colleges conduct regular evacuation drills (fire drills).

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

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