HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, Fla. — All high schools in Hillsborough County will now have athletic trainers.

The move comes following the death of a student, Hezekiah Walters, 14, during pre-season football conditioning at Middleton High School in June.

"We're tightening up our procedures and this is just one thing that we're adding to the layer of things we do to protect kids," said school board member Cindy Stuart.

The district will spend $270,000 to contract with three health providers who will also pitch in funds and hire 27 trainers.

Contracted providers are USF S.M.A.R.T Institute, Select Physical Therapy, and PT Solutions Holdings.

The trainers will be available year-round and their work won't be limited to football, they will help all student athletes.

"It puts an athletic trainer on campus in the afternoons and evenings for practices and games, and gives the opportunity for athletes to deal with injuries when they have them to try to prevent injuries," said Laness Robinson, Director of Athletics.

One school board member questioned whether the plan goes far enough.

Lynn Gray said she would like to see more personnel added to make sure medical forms are filled out correctly and that safety courses are completed.

"Isn't it possible that one child, maybe many, do not properly have this physical done, turned in at the right time? It happens," she said.

For now, Gray's proposal remains just a suggestion.

Robinson couldn't give an exact "start date" for the new trainers but she said "hopefully as soon as possible."