Public safety, school and town administrators will ask taxpayers to support the addition of a school resource officer to to patrol the town's middle and high schools at Town Meeting in May.

Hanover schools could see a school resource officer as early as as September 2015, if taxpayers support the position at Town Meeting next May.

Hanover police are in discussions with school and town officials to develop a the program, which would assign a fully-trained police officer to the high school and middle school. Hanover police already run a 10-week D.A.R.E. - or drug abuse resistance education – program for fifth graders in the elementary schools.

“I think having that presence in the schools is beneficial as a resource for creating relationships with young people, creating trust, demystifying the police and all things contributing to prevention and awareness,” Town Manager Troy Clarkson said.

Assigning a dedicated officer to the schools would require the police department to hire and outfit an additional officer. Clarkson estimated the additional salary and equipment would cost taxpayers about $60,000 annually plus benefits.

“We are still in the discussion stages, but we will have a better idea by the time I present my town manager's budget in February,” he said.

The concept of adding a resource officer in the schools has been discussed for more than a year in town, according to Chief Walter Sweeney. The idea came about as part of a larger effort to improve student safety, Sweeney said.

This year Hanover implemented new security protocols designed to better protect students in the event of a violent episode in school. The program, called A.L.I.C.E. – alert, lockdown, inform, counter, evacuate – trains students and teachers in decision-making strategies. Rather than lie in wait, students and teachers are encouraged to evaluate their situation, react and move toward evacuation, if it can be done safely.

In July, the Governor's report on School Safety and Security identified the A.L.I.C.E. as a preferred security protocol in Massachusetts schools.

“They reached the same conclusion as we did, proving our philosophy was the way to go,” Sweeney said.

The report also legislatively mandated all secondary schools to employ a school resource officer, upon the availability of local funding. This prompted town and school officials to revisit the issue.

“We are currently working closely with the schools to understand the town's ability to meet these mandates,” Sweeney said.

Ultimate approval of a school resource officer to patrol Hanover schools would be left to the approval of taxpayers with a vote at Town Meeting next May.

Clarkson promised an open and vocal discussion on the needs and costs associated with the position prior to presenting his budget for fiscal year 2016.