Livingston County

DARE PROGRAM IMPERILED

Howell Schools Cut Funds For Anti-Drug Effort; City Studies Options To
Cover Cost.

HOWELL -- The thought of losing Drug Abuse Resistance Education in
Howell Public Schools is not something Pam Dorer likes to think about.

The substitute teacher's three children have participated in DARE and
she thinks it helps influence young students about making the right
decision about substance abuse and how to respect police officers.

"You have to do something," Dorer said. "Even if it only deters a
couple of kids from crime it's worth it."

But the demise of the program, which teaches young students about the
dangers of drugs and fosters a positive relationship with police, is a
real possibility.

Howell Schools has eliminated its share of the funding for the program
- -- $40,000 -- for the 2005-06 school year because of budget
constraints. More than 1,000 fifth- and seventh-grade students in
Howell Schools participate in the program each semester.

"We have a good chance of losing the program in the public school
system," said Ken Taylor, the DARE officer for Howell Public Schools.

In the past Howell Public Schools and the city of Howell have split
the $80,000 needed to fund a full-time DARE officer. Now the city
needs to find a way to fund the missing $40,000 for the program to go
forward.

If the money isn't raised the program will end and the DARE officer
will rotate back into the city Police Department's road patrol.

Members of the Howell City Council sang the program's praises at its
meeting last week but didn't come up with a resolution to save it.
Several options were mentioned, such as finding corporate sponsorship
or having the city fully fund the program.

But having the other municipalities in the Howell district help pay
for the program is one option that resonated with the City Council.
Howell City Manager Shea Charles pointed out that the city provides
funding for half of the program but that only 16 percent of students
at Howell schools are city residents.

"I can't see why the city residents should pay for something that is
for the entire community," Howell City Councilman Donald Miller said.

Charles said he would approach the other municipalities in the school
district about helping fund the program.

The district extends into parts of seven townships. Most of the school
district is comprised of the city and its four surrounding townships
- -- Howell, Oceola, Genoa and Marion.

Marion Township Supervisor Bob Hanvey and Oceola Township Supervisor
Bill Bamber said they had not been contacted by the city about the
idea of sharing costs and declined to speculate on it.

"Money is always tight," Bamber said. "There is always a need. It's
how we prioritize those needs."

Dorer, a Howell Township resident, thinks the townships should pay
their fair share of the cost to keep the program going.

"I think that's only fair," Dorer said. "Why should the city's
residents pay for it when the townships send so many kids?"

What's next

The Howell City Council will discuss what to do about funding the DARE
program for the Howell Public Schools District at its next meeting at
7:30 p.m. July 25. The council meets in the basement of the Howell
City Hall, 611 E. Grand River Ave. For information, call (517) 546-3500.