City, DCPS publicizes partnership with company specializing in security doors, glass

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

The school district employed 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 into a classroom.

These are crucial factors after police in Texas determined the door accessed by the gunman at Robb Elementary Faculty in Uvalde was closed however not locked. Initially, state police said a trainer left the door propped open. Investigators concluded the teacher truly closed the door, but it surely didn’t lock routinely prefer it was alleged to. The gunman shot and killed 19 college students and two lecturers earlier than he was killed by law enforcement.

Armoured One, which was founded after the Sandy Hook Elementary College shooting, is made up of former military and legislation enforcement brokers who research mass taking pictures assaults and seek the advice of on college security measures.

Ad

“We are going to first work collaboratively to establish the place Armoured One sources can best praise the coaching already provided, including their resources to the coaching tools and resources the district already makes use of,” Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry said Wednesday afternoon at a information conference at Metropolis Corridor to announce the partnership.

Press the play button instantly under to look at your complete information conference.

The security glass and movie that Armoured One invented can withstand a number of hits -- whether or not that’s bullets, someone ramming into the glass or utilizing different objects or weapons -- with out breaking, which could sluggish an attacker. The doorways it makes use of have steel framing, latch bolts and deadbolts.

Armoured One is also identified for offering energetic shooter coaching and assessments. The corporate issues particular person reviews for every building and recommends the most effective gear to make use of for each facility it’s working with.

Ad

Curry stated he plans to search out the funding for that coaching but additionally work with the company to perform college safety assessments. Armoured One CEO Tom Czyz stated his crew is aware of what to search for when it assesses a college’s vulnerability.

“They’re taking a look at ways to decelerate an attacker and velocity up police response,” Czyz said. “How do we gradual him down -- and then velocity up the response that might cease him.”

Duval County Public Colleges Superintendent Dr. Diana Greene and Duval County Faculty Police Division Chief Greg Burton say safety and security are top of thoughts daily.

What I need to be widespread is that our households know that we are prepared each and every day. And that’s what we work in direction of being a greater college district as it pertains to security and safety,” Inexperienced mentioned.

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

Greene said that the district’s greatest protection is its college students and workers. She mentioned she continues to encourage the school group to report anything they see that’s suspicious.

Advert

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

Duval County voters approved a half-cent sales tax in November 2020 with the precise purpose of replacing growing older faculties, repairing a large backlog of maintenance points, and bolstering faculty safety.

Proper now, 74 tasks are in the design part and 15 are under building.

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

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

More details about how that money is planned to be spent in individual colleges can be discovered on the college district’s half-cent sales tax information dashboard.

Ad

The next list of safety measures is revealed on the school district’s website:

Each school has a safety plan and emergency response staff.

All school classrooms are locked when occupied by students.

College plans are reviewed with staff every semester.

The district has a highly educated faculty police department, giving all colleges direct access to school useful resource officers.

The district utilizes various main safety monitoring strategies together with digital camera surveillance and monitored controlled access methods.

All colleges and district places of work have a District Emergency Communications Community radio with direct entry to highschool police and district management. School Police have direct access to JSO.

All colleges conduct regular evacuation drills (hearth drills).

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

Copyright 2022 by WJXT News4JAX - All rights reserved.