Back to School Spending is 'Cool' in Hillsborough

TAMPA -- As school opens Monday (12th) in Hillsborough County, the superintendent is celebrating the facility and safety improvements made possible by a half-penny increase in sales taxes that voters approved in November.

At his back to school news conference Friday, Jeff Eakins said 21 schools are getting new air conditioners. Over the next decade, more than 180 others will get new A-C units. Complaints about hot classrooms were a big factor leading up to the sales tax vote. Eakins says technicians will be adjusting new and existing AC units, and it may be hot for the first few days as service people tweak and balance the systems for full classrooms.

A dozen roofs have been replaced as well as two gym floors, according to Eakins. The sales tax has generated about $40,000,000 since it took effect.

Eakins is also touting safety improvements, pointing out that Hillsborough was the first district to come into compliance with new rules passed after the Parkland massacre. Safety improvements this year include new lobby areas designed to keep visitors sequestered from the campus until they've been vetted, and new systems at some schools that allow employees to summon help or even lock down the campus by pressing their badges.

Photo Credit: Getty Images


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