PSD DRUG PROGRAMS FACE AX

Federal Budget May Cut Local Funds

Poudre School District has proved it is capable of keeping most kids off
drugs and away from underage drinking.

But with recent alcohol-related deaths and a growing problem with
methamphetamines and other drugs in the Fort Collins community, there's
still plenty of work to be done.

While local experts and the educators responsible for PSD's prevention and
intervention programs say they're gaining speed on breakthrough
initiatives, proposed changes to the federal drug budget could soon force
them to slam on the brakes.

In its proposed 2006 budget, the Bush administration calls for changes that
boost funding for drug control initiatives in the areas of drug testing,
treatment and programs that target drug supply.

However, those changes also would eliminate $441 million currently funneled
to school districts through the Safe and Drug Free Schools', or SDFS, state
block grant program.

If approved by Congress, the change could result in the loss of $3.6
million in prevention funding for Colorado schools, including approximately
$91,000 that makes up more than half of PSD's budget for prevention and
safe schools staffing and programs.

"If it's left like it's written now, this is going to have a significant
impact on the prevention progress we've made," said Jim Campaign,
coordinator for PSD's Student Assistance Services. "Some of the things
we've been happy to support are not going to be there if this happens."

Changes would affect schools and programs for the 2006-2007 school year.

In PSD, the changes could directly impact programs such as the Here's
Looking at You prevention curriculum taught to sixth-graders; research used
to identify trends and problems; and salaries for staff members who
coordinate and secure alternate funding for dozens of other programs.

While the federal budget is generally finalized and approved in the fall,
drug control funding is slated to be addressed in early May.

Brian Blake, special assistant to the director of the Office of National
Drug Control Policy, said eliminating the state block grants portion of the
SDFS program is an effort to streamline the federal budget.

"We're trying to drive accountability into federal dollars and make sure
we're not spending money on things that aren't having a noticeable and
demonstrable effect," Blake said, citing SDFS as an area that lacks data to
prove it is effectively reducing drug use.

Blake said school districts will have to apply for funds in the form of
SDFS national grants, which give $100,000 to selected districts, rather
than applying for federally funded grants that are allocated based on
student numbers and Title I funding.

Proving program effectiveness will be vital in order to receive continued
funding, Blake said.

While the proposed budget includes an $87.5 million increase that raises
available grant money to $233 million, schools would be competing for less
than half the total amount available in 2005 through guaranteed funds and
competitive grants.

The loss of the guaranteed funds will mean Poudre School District will need
to find other funding sources - which could include the national grant - or
face losing some of its programming.

"I just don't see how we would do all the education we do in the schools
without this grant," said Darcie Votipka, director of student services for
PSD, who oversees the district's SDFS program.

Votipka said eliminating drug prevention is not an option, but a decrease
in funding could mean the loss of some programs and staffing. Preserving
the most important programs might mean cuts in other areas of the district
if the budget results in cuts for PSD, she said.

"What makes this difficult is that we are showing good results," said
Campaign, whose salary could be affected by the change. "Our numbers
continue to reflect downward trends of usage."

Campaign said PSD submits annual accountability reports on its programs,
which show that prevention curriculum, social norms campaigns and other
programs are contributing to declining drug and alcohol use among teens.

Janelle Krueger, the Colorado Department of Education's principal
consultant responsible for administering Title IV funding, said this is a
common frustration for districts nationwide.

"There is a misperception about the SDFS program that it has not been able
to demonstrate effectiveness," she said.

Krueger said while many programs have statistics to back up claims that
their work is effective, that data isn't always relayed to the national
Department of Education, which is responsible for proving that the funding
is being put to good use.

"It's a problem of the system, not a problem of the program," she said.

Krueger said competitive grants that aren't guaranteed year after year
would put some districts in a tough position for securing other sources of
funding.

"I think a lot of people have looked at that money as a stable source over
time," she said, explaining that community partners, such as local
governments and nonprofits are often more willing to put forth their
resources if they know there will be continued support.

"I think Fort Collins would stand to lose a great deal if that money would
be cut, because that's what's sustaining a lot of your community
decision-makers to work together," Krueger said.

Scoot Crandall, executive director of TEAM Fort Collins, said the proposed
cuts to SDFS funding could have serious effects on the entire community.

"TEAM Fort Collins and the school district and the university are right on
the edge of some real solid work we feel can make a difference with our
young people in high school and college," Crandall said. "Anything that
would disrupt that opportunity that we have right now would be very sad."

Crandall said he's struggling to understand the reasoning behind the
change, which appears to shift the focus from prevention to response.

"It's just a whole lot cheaper to do prevention," Crandall said.

The Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America, or CADCA, has used the
fiscal impacts as a primary argument against the change in Safe and Drug
Free Schools funding.

A report released by CADCA cites research that shows for every dollar spent
on substance abuse prevention, between $2 and $20 is saved in treatment,
law enforcement and other responsive costs, depending on how costs are
calculated.

"The SDFS program has had a significant impact on helping to achieve the 17
percent overall decline in youth drug use over the past three years," a
recent CADCA report said.

"Funding for the state grants portion of the Safe and Drug Free Schools
program must be maintained: Elimination is not an option."

Federal Safe and Drug Free Schools state grant funding for 2004-05 school year

Poudre School District: $90,955

Thompson School District: $52,098

Cherry Creek School District: $120,154

St. Vrain Valley School District: $82,290

Boulder Valley School District: $100,308

Denver County School District: $624,099

Greeley School District: $105,263

Windsor School District: $8,680 A look at the funding

For a graphic depicting how Poudre School District's Safe and Drug Free
Schools funding is spent, click here.

http://www.coloradoan.com/news/coloradoanpublishing/graphics/psdfund.pdf