Metropolis, DCPS pronounces partnership with firm specializing in safety doorways, glass

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The town of Jacksonville and Duval County school district on Wednesday introduced a brand new plan to keep children safe in the classroom.

The varsity district hired a New York company named Armoured One, which makes a speciality of doors and glass and claims it could possibly slow down or stop a shooter from getting right into a classroom.

Those are crucial components after police in Texas decided the door accessed by the gunman at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde was closed but not locked. Initially, state police said a trainer left the door propped open. Investigators concluded the trainer truly closed the door, however it didn’t lock mechanically like it was alleged to. The gunman shot and killed 19 college students and two teachers before he was killed by legislation enforcement.

Armoured One, which was founded after the Sandy Hook Elementary Faculty taking pictures, is made up of former army and law enforcement brokers who examine mass shooting attacks and consult on school safety measures.

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

Press the play button immediately below to watch your complete information conference.

The security glass and film that Armoured One invented can stand up to a number of hits -- whether that’s bullets, someone ramming into the glass or utilizing other objects or weapons -- without breaking, which might sluggish an attacker. The doorways it makes use of have steel framing, latch bolts and deadbolts.

Armoured One can be identified for offering lively shooter training and assessments. The corporate points individual reports 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 find the funding for that coaching but in addition work with the company to perform school safety assessments. Armoured One CEO Tom Czyz said his workforce knows what to look for when it assesses a school’s vulnerability.

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

Duval County Public Faculties Superintendent Dr. Diana Greene and Duval County Faculty Police Department Chief Greg Burton say security and safety are top of mind day-after-day.

What I wish to be widespread is that our households know that we're prepared every day. And that’s what we work in the direction of being a better faculty district as it relates to safety and security,” Green said.

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

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

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

Duval County voters authorized a half-cent gross sales tax in November 2020 with the particular goal of replacing aging schools, repairing a massive backlog of maintenance points, and bolstering school safety.

Right now, 74 projects are within the design phase 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 initiatives under construction.

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

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

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The next list of security measures is revealed on the varsity district’s web site:

Each school has a safety plan and emergency response staff.

All college classrooms are locked when occupied by students.

School plans are reviewed with staff every semester.

The district has a highly trained school police division, giving all faculties direct entry to highschool resource officers.

The district utilizes various main safety monitoring strategies including camera surveillance and monitored managed access techniques.

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

All schools conduct common evacuation drills (fireplace drills).

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

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