The Manatee County School Board has approved it's budget for school year, highlighted by funds specifically aimed at security.
During a school board meeting Tuesday, board members voted 3-2 to approve a $1 million per year contract to hire armed security guards at all but one of the county's 33 elementary schools. The contract is for three years.
According to Bay News 9's partner newspaper the Bradenton Herald, the contract was awarded to Sarasota Security Patrol, which provides armed security guards for businesses as well as handling repossessions, private investigations and managing parking lots.
School board members Bob Gause and Dave Miner voted against the proposal, with Miner bringing up concerns about Sarasota Security Patrol owner Chad Ritchie's 1996 arrest for impersonating a law enforcement owner.
The deal calls for the guards to be at the schools within 48 hours.
Meanwhile, board members approved the $627.5 million budget, which is a $47 million -- or 8 percent -- increase over last fiscal year.
The budget includes $1 million for teacher performance pay, $2.6 million to hire new teachers and $1.8 million for new classroom technology.