The Pinellas County School board has voted unanimously to hire armed security guards to patrol the schools in the fall.
The guards will be screened and trained to fill the positions in keeping with the state's new school security requirements.
Pinellas now joins other local school districts which are using the so-called "guardian" program that utilizes mostly former law enforcement officers and military personnel to provide armed security at school campuses.
Manatee County School Board members have voted to take the same measure.
Meantime in Bradenton, a Bayshore High School student has been charged with bringing a loaded gun to school.