Police officers will remain in three Highline high schools, Superintendent John Welch announced July 10.

Welch told board members that district staffers had removed elimination of the school resource officers (SROs) from suggested budget cuts.

The district will instead reduce additional administrative positions and make other cuts, he said.

An estimated $3.1 million revenue shortfall needs to be eliminated from next school year's budget.

Welch had previously noted the district could save $180,000 by cutting funding for the police officers at Highline, Evergreen and Tyee high schools.

"We are working aggressively," Welch reported. "This is still a preliminary budget but I am feeling hopeful we can keep the three SROs."

Welch said the district would fund the SROs at Evergreen and Tyee at the current rate. Burien is expected to increase its contribution for Highline High's officer.

The city of SeaTac agreed in May to contribute $50,000 for an officer at the Tyee campus and neighboring Chinook Middle School. The city had previously fully funded the position.

The district pays about $110,000 for the Highline High SRO, while Burien budgets $20,000.

The municipalities used to pay for school officers through federal grants but the grants have dried up.

Mt. Rainier's SRO was not on the chopping block. The district's agreement with Des Moines to allow Mt. Rainier students to be housed at the Olympic site while their school is rebuilt required that a full-time officer patrol parking and traffic.

The district also employs a security officer at each high school. In addition, two security officers are assigned to each high school along with nearby elementary and middle schools.

Welch's announcement was good news for Burien and SeaTac's police chiefs, who came to the board meeting planning to argue against SRO cuts.

Burien Police Chief Scott Kimerer commended district officials for putting SRO funding back into the budget.

When Highline High did not have an SRO, he had to dedicate many more police resources to the school, according to Kimerer.

"The SRO program has a very substantial impact on the school," Kimerer noted. "It is very important to us and we will do what we can to keep it."

SeaTac chief Greg Dymerski, who also commands the King County Sheriff's Southwest Precinct, which includes Burien, SeaTac and North Highline, noted the program has a positive effect on students beyond crime reduction.

Under the SRO program, a police officer is assigned full-time to each high school to provide security and head off violence, partly by educating and building rapport with students.

Board members are expected to approve the final 2006-07 budget at their next meeting on Aug. 9.