City, DCPS proclaims partnership with firm specializing in safety doorways, glass

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The town of Jacksonville and Duval County faculty district on Wednesday announced a new plan to maintain kids safe in the classroom.

The school district hired a New York firm named Armoured One, which focuses on doors and glass and claims it may well decelerate or forestall a shooter from getting into a classroom.

Those are crucial factors after police in Texas determined 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 instructor really closed the door, nevertheless it didn’t lock mechanically like it was supposed to. The gunman shot and killed 19 college students and two teachers earlier than he was killed by regulation enforcement.

Armoured One, which was founded after the Sandy Hook Elementary Faculty shooting, is made up of former army and legislation enforcement brokers who research mass taking pictures attacks and consult on faculty security measures.

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“We will first work collaboratively to establish the place Armoured One resources can finest praise the training already supplied, including their resources to the coaching tools and assets the district already uses,” Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry mentioned Wednesday afternoon at a news convention at City Hall to announce the partnership.

Press the play button directly below to watch the complete 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 -- with out breaking, which might gradual an attacker. The doorways it uses have steel framing, latch bolts and deadbolts.

Armoured One can also be identified for providing lively shooter coaching and assessments. The company issues particular person reports for every building and recommends one of the best gear to make use of 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 company to perform faculty security assessments. Armoured One CEO Tom Czyz stated his group knows what to search for when it assesses a faculty’s vulnerability.

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

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

What I need to be common is that our families know that we are prepared every day. And that’s what we work towards being a better faculty district because it pertains to security and safety,” Green mentioned.

Burton said, “I might say the one word that summarizes all the pieces that we do is vigilance.”

Greene stated that the district’s greatest protection is its college students and employees. She stated she continues to encourage the varsity group to report something they see that’s suspicious.

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

Duval County voters accredited a half-cent sales tax in November 2020 with the precise function of changing getting older colleges, repairing an enormous backlog of upkeep issues, and bolstering college security.

Right now, 74 initiatives are within the design part and 15 are below development.

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

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

More details about how that cash is deliberate to be spent in particular person colleges could be discovered on the college district’s half-cent gross sales tax information dashboard.

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The following list of security measures is printed on the college district’s web site:

Each college has a security plan and emergency response team.

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

College plans are reviewed with workers every semester.

The district has a highly trained college police department, giving all colleges direct entry to high school useful resource officers.

The district utilizes numerous main security monitoring strategies including camera surveillance and monitored controlled access systems.

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

All faculties conduct common evacuation drills (fire drills).

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

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