— North Carolina Superintendent of Public Instruction Mark Johnson said Monday that teachers should not be armed in the classroom. Instead, he supports more funding for school resource officers.

"Firearms on school grounds should be in the hands of these trained, uniformed, law-enforcement professionals who courageously chose a career protecting citizens from violent threats," Johnson posted on Twitter Monday.

There are many conversations surrounding school safety happening in our state. Below is my statement on arming teachers in NC's public schools: pic.twitter.com/uqLd7Wbnk0 — NC Sup. Mark Johnson (@MarkRJohnsonNC) February 26, 2018

Johnson's comments come as state lawmakers are looking at ways to improve school safety in the wake of a Florida school shooting that killed 17 people. North Carolina House Speaker Tim Moore has appointed a bipartisan committee to look at the issue.

Some Republican lawmakers have suggested allowing school personnel to carry concealed guns on campus, an idea President Donald Trump has shown interest in exploring on the national level.

North Carolina law permits only law enforcement officers to carry firearms at schools. All other weapons must be inside locked vehicles.