The Affton Board of Education unanimously approved the hiring of the district’s third school resource officer (SRO) for the 2025-26 school year at its April 1 meeting.

The new SRO position is yet to be filled, though the district has already begun working with the St. Louis County Police Department to begin the selection and placement process. The position is expected to be occupied by the start of next school year. 

Once the new SRO is hired, they will primarily serve the district’s elementary schools, Mesnier Primary and Gotsch Intermediate, as well as Affton Early Childhood, as those campuses have previously shared an officer with Rogers Middle School. The current SROs at both Affton High School and Rogers Middle School will remain stationed at their respective campuses. 

“With the addition of this new position, we’ll be able to provide more consistent and dedicated coverage at each of those buildings,” Erica Chandler, Affton’s director of communications, said. “This structure allows all schools to have dedicated support, while still maintaining flexibility to respond districtwide as needed.”

A salary for the new SRO position has not yet been released, though the total cost for all three of the district’s SROs sits at $279,587.07 according to a contract between Affton and the county.

“As our district continues to grow and evolve, we’re committed to proactive measures that support safety and security, along with the strong relationships our SROs build with students, families and staff,” Chandler said. “We’re incredibly proud of the positive impact our current SROs have in our schools — not just in terms of safety, but in fostering trust, mentorship and community. Adding a third SRO strengthens that commitment and ensures all students have access to these supportive connections.” 

The item appeared on the board’s recent meeting’s consent agenda, so little discussion was had on the topic, though it had been previously discussed at length.