Acting Police Chief Robert Szala told the Select Board that a school resource officer (SRO) has been on the job these past few months, despite online rumors that alleged otherwise.

Chair Shawn McDonald said he requested Szala meet with the board after seeing Internet postings that claimed an officer wasn’t on duty in the high school.

“Several months ago, an issue took a life of its own on social media,” McDonald said. “We’ve asked the chief to give us a brief update on how the new SRO is doing at the high school, and whether he completed his training.”

Szala said officer Richard Pacheco has fulfilled basic SRO requirements. Later this year, he will attend an advanced class.

“There has been no interruption in the SRO program,” Szala said.

Superintendent Dr. Bonny Gifford echoed that sentiment while praising Pacheco, who was hired in December when the previous SRO was reassigned.

“The transition went swimmingly. There wasn’t a break in service,” Gifford said. “Everything is going very well.”

As SRO Pacheco has a hand in overseeing the safety and security of students. With an office inside the high school’s media center, he also acts as a mentor and may provide conflict resolution.

In addition to Pacheco, the police department has another officer assigned to the middle school.

School Committee Chair Chris Oliver said it’s time to consider hiring a third SRO for the town’s elementary schools.

“These two SROs play such a big role,” Oliver said. “We need to try to creatively fund an additional SRO that would rotate among the elementary schools.”