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

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

The varsity district employed a New York firm named Armoured One, which makes a speciality of doors and glass and claims it can decelerate or prevent a shooter from getting into a classroom.

These are essential elements after police in Texas decided the door accessed by the gunman at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde was closed however not locked. Initially, state police stated a trainer left the door propped open. Investigators concluded the trainer truly closed the door, but it didn’t lock mechanically prefer it was presupposed to. The gunman shot and killed 19 students and two academics earlier than he was killed by legislation enforcement.

Armoured One, which was founded after the Sandy Hook Elementary Faculty capturing, is made up of former army and regulation enforcement agents who examine mass taking pictures attacks and consult on faculty safety measures.

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“We will first work collaboratively to determine the place Armoured One assets can best compliment the coaching already supplied, adding their resources to the coaching instruments and sources the district already makes use of,” Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry mentioned Wednesday afternoon at a news conference at Metropolis Hall to announce the partnership.

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The security glass and movie that Armoured One invented can withstand several hits -- whether or not that’s bullets, somebody ramming into the glass or utilizing different objects or weapons -- without breaking, which could slow an attacker. The doors it makes use of have metallic framing, latch bolts and deadbolts.

Armoured One can be known for providing active shooter coaching and assessments. The company issues particular person reviews for each building and recommends the very best tools to make use of for every facility it’s working with.

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

“They’re ways to decelerate an attacker and speed up police response,” Czyz mentioned. “How will we sluggish him down -- and then speed up the response that may stop him.”

Duval County Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Diana Greene and Duval County School Police Department Chief Greg Burton say security and safety are prime of mind every single day.

What I need to be widespread is that our households know that we are ready each and every day. And that’s what we work towards being a better school district because it pertains to security and security,” Inexperienced mentioned.

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

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

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

Duval County voters authorised a half-cent gross sales tax in November 2020 with the particular goal of changing getting older schools, repairing an enormous backlog of maintenance issues, and bolstering college safety.

Right now, 74 tasks are in the design section 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 allocated to tasks below building.

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

Extra details about how that money is planned to be spent in particular person colleges might be found on the varsity district’s half-cent sales tax data dashboard.

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

Each school has a security plan and emergency response staff.

All faculty classrooms are locked when occupied by students.

Faculty plans are reviewed with employees each semester.

The district has a highly educated faculty police division, giving all colleges direct entry to highschool useful resource officers.

The district utilizes numerous main security monitoring methods together with digital camera surveillance and monitored controlled entry techniques.

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

All schools conduct common evacuation drills (fire drills).

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

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