DISTRICT DROPPING D.A.R.E

The Roaring Fork Re-1's Health Committee has decided that it will no
longer offer the Drug Abuse Resistance Education (D.A.R.E.) program in
schools.

Although response to D.A.R.E. has been very positive, said Judy
Haptonstall, assistant district superintendent, the numbers simply don't
support the program. "With all the information, the (drug use) numbers
go up and up and up."

D.A.R.E. is a national, curriculum-based program that places specially
trained police officers in classrooms in order to teach students the
dangers and negative fallout from drug, alcohol and tobacco use.
D.A.R.E. also teaches students refusal skills through role playing and
other techniques at a time when they may be confronted with decisions on
whether to use drugs.

For about 12 years, according to Police Chief Terry Wilson, D.A.R.E. had
been taught to fifth-grade students in the district, and seventh-grade
students are given follow-up classes. Wilson said he met with
Haptonstall last week to discuss possible programs to replace D.A.R.E.
and to consider the police department's ability to be a part of those
programs and ways to maintain officer presence in schools.

Funding for School Resource Officers, or SROs, a program that places
police officers in schools and allows for officer/student interaction,
should continue into the coming school year, Wilson said.

"It's important to be a part of the youth in the community," said
Wilson.