The Hutto ISD board of trustees approved hiring an additional school resource officer at its meeting Feb. 14.

Before funding cuts in the 2009–10 school year forced HISD to eliminate some positions, the district contracted with the City of Hutto to provide four officers trained to work in schools. Two SROs were stationed at Hutto High School and one each at Farley and Hutto middle schools. One officer was eliminated in the 2010–11 school year, leaving one officer at each campus and eventually leading to the two middle school officers rotating duties at the high school.

New funding from the tax ratification election approved in September 2012 will allow HISD to hire a fourth officer. The district will pay approximately 75 percent of the cost to hire the new officer, or $55,000–$60,000 for the school year. The city will hire the officer and provide training, vehicles and uniforms.

"The officer will be an employee of the city, with duties part of the year at the schools," HISD Public Information Officer Emily Grobe said.