BRADENTON- It was a busy Tuesday night for the Manatee County School Board. The board has approved its new $627.5 million budget. The budget includes $2.1 million to hire additional teachers, helping cover a significant rise in the number of students in the 2014-15 school year.
The school board has also agreed to pay Robert Gagnon's legal fees. The former assistant superintendent and principal asked the district to pay nearly $69,000 in fees incurred while defending himself against allegations that he failed to report child abuse. The charges stemmed from the Rod Frazier case.
Finally, the school board approved a controversial proposal to award Sarasota Security Patrol a 3 year, $3 million contract to provide armed security at the district's elementary schools.
