WILBRAHAM SCHOOLS GETTING DARE OFFICER

WILBRAHAM - The Board of Selectmen has given permission to Police
Chief Allen M. Stratton to fill the position of DARE officer for the
town's elementary and middle schools.

The position has been vacant since DARE officer Dennis J. LaPlante
went out on sick leave. He retired in October.

Town Administrator William J. Fogarty told Stratton Tuesday he must
check with the town accountant to determine when the funds for the
position are available.

The funding for the position is included in the budget for the
current fiscal year, Stratton said.

Selectman James E. Thompson said he has realized the value of the
DARE program since he heard a student approach a DARE officer about a
bullying issue at school.

"We have learned since that bullying can become a powder keg,"
Thompson said.

The schools have been without a DARE program for a year and a
half.

Fifth graders have done without the program for the past two years,
School Superintendent Paul C. Gagliarducci said.

He said that when a DARE officer is hired, the program may be offered
to sixth and eighth graders so those students will get the training
who missed it in fifth grade.

Selectmen Chairman David W. Barry said he considers the Drug Abuse
Resistance Education program "an investment in kids."

"Parents are concerned about these issues and support the program,"
he said.

Barry said that since the program is preventive in nature, it is
difficult to directly measure the results of the program.