City, DCPS pronounces partnership with firm specializing in security doors, glass

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

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

These are crucial elements after police in Texas decided 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 trainer truly closed the door, but it didn’t lock routinely like it was speculated to. The gunman shot and killed 19 students and two academics before he was killed by regulation enforcement.

Armoured One, which was founded after the Sandy Hook Elementary School capturing, is made up of former navy and law enforcement brokers who examine mass capturing assaults and consult on college security measures.

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

Press the play button straight under to look at the complete news conference.

The safety glass and movie that Armoured One invented can face up to a number of hits -- whether or not that’s bullets, someone ramming into the glass or using other objects or weapons -- without breaking, which may gradual an attacker. The doors it uses have metal framing, latch bolts and deadbolts.

Armoured One can also be known for providing lively shooter coaching and assessments. The corporate issues individual stories for every building and recommends the most effective tools to make use of for each facility it’s working with.

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Curry mentioned he plans to seek out the funding for that coaching but additionally work with the company to carry out faculty safety assessments. Armoured One CEO Tom Czyz said his workforce knows what to look for when it assesses a school’s vulnerability.

“They’re ways to decelerate an attacker and pace up police response,” Czyz stated. “How can we slow him down -- after which pace up the response that will stop him.”

Duval County Public Faculties Superintendent Dr. Diana Greene and Duval County School Police Department Chief Greg Burton say security and safety are top of thoughts every single day.

What I wish to be widespread is that our households know that we're ready each and every day. And that’s what we work in the direction of being a greater school district as it pertains to security and safety,” Green mentioned.

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

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

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As far as the cost, it’s unclear proper now, because the partnership remains to be being worked out.

Duval County voters authorised a half-cent sales tax in November 2020 with the precise goal of replacing growing old faculties, repairing a massive backlog of maintenance issues, and bolstering school security.

Right now, 74 initiatives are in the design section and 15 are under development.

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

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

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

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The following checklist of security measures is revealed on the varsity district’s website:

Every school has a security plan and emergency response staff.

All faculty lecture rooms are locked when occupied by students.

School plans are reviewed with staff each semester.

The district has a highly skilled faculty police division, giving all schools direct entry to high school useful resource officers.

The district makes use of numerous major security monitoring strategies together with camera surveillance and monitored controlled access systems.

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

All faculties conduct regular evacuation drills (fire drills).

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

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