City, DCPS announces partnership with firm specializing in security doorways, glass

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The city of Jacksonville and Duval County faculty district on Wednesday announced a brand new plan to keep youngsters secure within the classroom.

The varsity district hired a New York company named Armoured One, which focuses on doors and glass and claims it can decelerate or stop a shooter from getting right into a classroom.

These are essential components after police in Texas decided the door accessed by the gunman at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde was closed but not locked. Originally, state police stated a teacher left the door propped open. Investigators concluded the trainer truly closed the door, however it didn’t lock robotically like it was purported to. The gunman shot and killed 19 college students and two lecturers earlier than he was killed by legislation enforcement.

Armoured One, which was based after the Sandy Hook Elementary College shooting, is made up of former military and law enforcement agents who examine mass shooting attacks and seek the advice of on school security measures.

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“We'll first work collaboratively to determine where Armoured One sources can finest praise the training already supplied, including their sources to the training tools and resources the district already makes use of,” Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry mentioned Wednesday afternoon at a news conference at City Hall to announce the partnership.

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

The safety glass and film 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 -- with out breaking, which may sluggish an attacker. The doors it makes use of have metallic framing, latch bolts and deadbolts.

Armoured One can be identified for providing active shooter coaching and assessments. The corporate issues individual stories for every building and recommends the perfect equipment to use for each facility it’s working with.

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Curry mentioned he plans to search out the funding for that coaching but in addition work with the company to perform faculty security assessments. Armoured One CEO Tom Czyz stated his group knows what to look for when it assesses a college’s vulnerability.

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

Duval County Public Colleges Superintendent Dr. Diana Greene and Duval County College Police Department Chief Greg Burton say safety and security are top of mind day by day.

What I wish to be frequent is that our households know that we are prepared every day. And that’s what we work in direction of being a greater faculty district as it pertains to security and security,” Green stated.

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

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

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As far as the cost, it’s unclear right now, as the partnership is still being worked out.

Duval County voters authorized a half-cent gross sales tax in November 2020 with the particular objective of changing getting old schools, repairing a large backlog of upkeep points, and bolstering faculty safety.

Right now, 74 tasks are in the design part and 15 are below building.

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

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

Extra details about how that money is deliberate to be spent in particular person colleges may be discovered on the school district’s half-cent gross sales tax info dashboard.

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The following listing of safety measures is printed on the college district’s website:

Each faculty has a security plan and emergency response staff.

All college classrooms are locked when occupied by students.

Faculty plans are reviewed with workers every semester.

The district has a extremely skilled school police department, giving all faculties direct entry to high school resource officers.

The district makes use of varied major security monitoring strategies together with digital camera surveillance and monitored controlled entry programs.

All schools and district workplaces have a District Emergency Communications Community radio with direct access to school police and district management. Faculty Police have direct access to JSO.

All faculties conduct regular evacuation drills (hearth drills).

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

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