City, DCPS declares partnership with company specializing in security doorways, glass

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Town of Jacksonville and Duval County school district on Wednesday announced a new plan to keep children protected within the classroom.

The school district hired a New York firm named Armoured One, which specializes in doors and glass and claims it could possibly decelerate or prevent a shooter from getting right into a classroom.

Those 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. Originally, state police said a trainer left the door propped open. Investigators concluded the trainer really closed the door, nevertheless it didn’t lock robotically like it was alleged to. The gunman shot and killed 19 college students and two academics before he was killed by regulation enforcement.

Armoured One, which was based after the Sandy Hook Elementary Faculty shooting, is made up of former army and law enforcement agents who research mass taking pictures assaults and consult on school security measures.

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“We will first work collaboratively to determine the place Armoured One sources can finest compliment the training already provided, adding their assets to the training tools and assets the district already makes use of,” Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry stated Wednesday afternoon at a information convention at City Corridor to announce the partnership.

Press the play button straight below to watch all the information 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 different objects or weapons -- without breaking, which might sluggish an attacker. The doors it uses have steel framing, latch bolts and deadbolts.

Armoured One can be identified for offering lively shooter training and assessments. The company issues individual experiences for every constructing and recommends the perfect tools to use for every facility it’s working with.

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Curry said he plans to seek out the funding for that training but in addition work with the company to carry out faculty security assessments. Armoured One CEO Tom Czyz mentioned his staff is aware of what to search for when it assesses a college’s vulnerability.

“They’re looking at methods to decelerate an attacker and pace up police response,” Czyz mentioned. “How will we slow him down -- after which speed up the response that would stop him.”

Duval County Public Colleges Superintendent Dr. Diana Greene and Duval County School Police Department Chief Greg Burton say security and safety are top of thoughts day-after-day.

What I wish to be widespread is that our families know that we're ready each day. And that’s what we work in direction of being a better faculty district as it relates to safety and safety,” Green mentioned.

Burton stated, “I might say the one phrase that summarizes every thing that we do is vigilance.”

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

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

Duval County voters approved a half-cent gross sales tax in November 2020 with the precise goal of replacing ageing schools, repairing a large backlog of upkeep issues, and bolstering college safety.

Proper now, 74 initiatives are within the design phase and 15 are underneath 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 initiatives underneath development.

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

Extra information about how that cash is deliberate to be spent in particular person colleges will be discovered on the school district’s half-cent sales tax information dashboard.

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The following list of safety measures is published on the varsity district’s web site:

Every college has a safety plan and emergency response crew.

All school classrooms are locked when occupied by college students.

College plans are reviewed with workers each semester.

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

The district utilizes various main security monitoring strategies including digital camera surveillance and monitored controlled access programs.

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

All faculties conduct regular evacuation drills (fire drills).

All colleges conduct common emergency and lockdown (“code crimson” and “code yellow”) drills.

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