Hardin County Commissioners on July 28 approved Constable Jeffcoat’s request to appoint Shauna Fippin as a deputy constable for Precinct 4 to serve as a school resource officer for Hardin-Anderson Independent School District.

The court recorded discussion about current staffing levels, reimbursement for unemployment costs under the contract with the school district, and the potential for transferring deputies to school-district employment. Constable Jeffcoat said, “I have 4 total,” referring to deputies in Precinct 4, and listed existing deputies and their current school assignments.

A question from a commissioner asked whether the appointment would increase the number of officers assigned to the schools; Constable Jeffcoat replied the appointment would maintain the existing complement. He told the court that the school district reimburses the county for unemployment costs “It’s in the contract,” he said. The court discussed a plan whereby deputies who are not elected would become employees of the school district; the constable and the school superintendent were said to be working on that transfer.

Court members also noted the school board will discuss the matter at its August meeting; the transcript records the date discussed as Aug. 14 and the district start date mentioned as Aug. 16 (one speaker said Aug. 13). The court approved the appointment on a motion by Commissioner Young, seconded by Commissioner Kuykendahl; the presiding official called the vote, recorded as voice approval, and announced the motion passed.

County officials said the arrangements will require a new memorandum of understanding between the constable and the school district for commissioned deputies assigned to the schools. No MOU text or funding figures were presented during the meeting.