The Manatee County School Board approved nearly $2 million to go towards hiring armed security guards at every elementary school.
The district won't be relying on local law enforcement. It will have a director of safety and security. Each secondary school will also have a full time officer.
The security costs bring the school board's budget to $13.5 million.
The board also wants funding to upgrade all radios on school buses.
The approval came after a budget meeting on Thursday revealed a surplus in the school board's budget.