HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) Two school districts are going ahead with plans to hire armed guards even as other Connecticut municipalities and states across the country have backed away from such a move as unaffordable or imprudent.

North Branford hired private guards in January in response to the Newtown school shooting in December and is awaiting state approval to arm them. Enfield is anticipating funding in its new budget to bring on armed security guards through the town's department of public safety.

Other districts across the nation are experimenting with a variety of initiatives that balance safety and cost in tough economic times.

Meanwhile, Connecticut is moving forward to establish a council for school safety infrastructure as laid out in the gun control legislation signed this month by Gov. Dannel P. Malloy.