City, DCPS declares partnership with company specializing in safety doors, glass

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The city of Jacksonville and Duval County school district on Wednesday introduced a brand new plan to keep kids protected within the classroom.

The college district hired a New York firm named Armoured One, which specializes in doors and glass and claims it may well decelerate or prevent a shooter from getting into a classroom.

Those are essential components 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 stated a trainer left the door propped open. Investigators concluded the teacher really closed the door, nevertheless it didn’t lock robotically like it was imagined to. The gunman shot and killed 19 college students and two teachers before he was killed by legislation enforcement.

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

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“We will first work collaboratively to establish the place Armoured One assets can best praise the training already supplied, including their assets to the coaching instruments and sources the district already uses,” Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry said Wednesday afternoon at a information conference at Metropolis Corridor to announce the partnership.

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

Armoured One can also be known for offering active shooter coaching and assessments. The corporate points particular person stories for each constructing and recommends the best gear to use for every facility it’s working with.

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Curry mentioned he plans to search out the funding for that coaching but also work with the corporate to carry out school security assessments. Armoured One CEO Tom Czyz said his crew knows what to look for when it assesses a faculty’s vulnerability.

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

Duval County Public Colleges Superintendent Dr. Diana Greene and Duval County College Police Division Chief Greg Burton say safety and security are high of mind on daily basis.

What I need to be frequent is that our households know that we're prepared each day. And that’s what we work towards being a better faculty district as it relates to safety and safety,” Green stated.

Burton stated, “I'd say the one phrase that summarizes all the pieces that we do is vigilance.”

Greene mentioned that the district’s finest protection is its 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 fee, it’s unclear proper now, as the partnership is still being labored out.

Duval County voters authorised a half-cent sales tax in November 2020 with the particular purpose of replacing growing old faculties, repairing a large backlog of upkeep issues, and bolstering college security.

Right now, 74 tasks are within the design section and 15 are beneath construction.

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

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

More details about how that cash is planned to be spent in particular person colleges will be found on the school district’s half-cent gross sales tax info dashboard.

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The next listing of safety measures is published on the college district’s website:

Each school has a safety plan and emergency response staff.

All college school rooms are locked when occupied by college students.

Faculty plans are reviewed with staff each semester.

The district has a extremely educated college police department, giving all schools direct entry to highschool resource officers.

The district utilizes varied main safety monitoring methods including camera surveillance and monitored managed access methods.

All faculties and district workplaces have a District Emergency Communications Community radio with direct access to school police and district leadership. School Police have direct entry to JSO.

All faculties conduct regular evacuation drills (hearth drills).

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

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