Hillsborough Schools Parents and Guardians,

The safety of our students and staff is our top priority in this district. I am sending you this message with
an update about security on our campuses.
As you may have heard, yesterday the Florida House passed Senate Bill 7030 which would allow
classroom teachers to be armed if their district approves. The bill must now be signed by Governor
DeSantis.
However, I want to be very clear, teachers in Hillsborough County Public Schools will NOT carry
weapons. In order for teachers and staff to be armed in any school, our school district would have
to opt-in to this part of the Guardian program. WE HAVE NO PLANS TO OPT-IN.
Our School Board and I have already made our position clear on this issue.
After Senate Bill 7026 passed last year, Hillsborough Schools, along with Hillsborough County Sheriff
Chad Chronister and the police chiefs of Tampa, Temple Terrace and Plant City met. Together, we
determined the safest plan for our students, staff and schools is to meet the requirements of the Guardian
program with sheriff’s office trained School Security officers. Our School Board members made it very
clear that they oppose arming teachers.
Our stance has not changed. In fact, back in February after seeing this topic on the legislative agenda,
our School Board was one of the first in the state to address this issue, voting unanimously to reject any
proposals to arm our teachers.
Over the past year, Hillsborough Schools Security Services Chief John Newman, and his team, have
hired an additional 210 security officers and supervisors to staff every elementary school and charter
school, in addition to our ESE centers, career centers and technical colleges. Our middle and high
schools continue to have officers and deputies from local law enforcement agencies protecting those
campuses.
Every one of our School Security officers has gone through more than 100 hours of Hillsborough County
Sheriff’s Office training, including active shooter response, defensive tactics and firearms training, in
addition to the training that our district provides.
I am proud of our district, as our staff members have worked tirelessly to provide a safe learning
environment for all.
Superintendent Jeff Eakins
Hillsborough County Public Schools