The clock is ticking down toward the start of the new school year in the Tampa Bay area.
Hillsborough superintendent Addison Davis, in remarks at the new Dorothy C. York Academy in Apollo Beach, talked about the new tax referendum to be decided later this month. "This is an opportunity to address our national crisis," Davis said. "to fill our positions and properly compensate every employee in this school district."
Davis says there are still close to 700 teacher vacancies across the county. But, he says close to one hundred men and women have nearly completed the hiring process.
Chief of Security John Newman said he and his staff carry a coin marking the 2018 shooting that left 17 dead at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. It's a reminder, he said, of what's at stake.
"So when our parents get ready to drop their most important things in the world off to us, we want to let them know that we're doing our very, very best in the Hillsborough County schools to provide the safest environment possible."
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