PARMA MAYOR ELIMINATES DARE PROGRAM

One of the largest DARE programs in Northeast Ohio will be eliminated next
school year, saving about $150,000 in overtime for the city's 2005 budget.

Mayor Dean DePiero cut the 4-year-old program because money is tight,
partly because residents voted last month against renewing a $1.8
million-a-year tax for police.

DePiero says the popular program will be missed but is a luxury the city
can't afford anymore.

"Anything you can do to keep kids away from drugs is good," said DePiero.
"But, clearly, having officers on the street is more important."

The program's two officers, John Bomba and Daniel Straub, serve about 1,300
students at 11 elementary schools and two middle schools, said Kevin Kelly,
school board president. The DARE program, or Drug Abuse Resistance
Education, was started nationally in 1983 to educate youths about drugs but
has faced much criticism in recent years over its effectiveness.

A study to develop a new approach began in 2001 at the University of Akron,
and the new curriculum is being tested in schools across the nation. One of
the pilot schools is in Parma.

Zili Sloboda, the principal investigator for the study, said the program
has expanded to grades beyond elementary school because the rate of
substance abuse doubles between grades eight and 10.

DARE America Regional Director Lloyd Bratz said Parma could have been a
national DARE model if voters had approved the tax.

"We're disappointed, but we're realistic," said Bratz. "If this thing would
have passed, they could have done even more."

Parma schools Superintendent Sarah Zatik said students received an
education on drugs and alcohol and had a chance to interact with officers
outside of their law enforcement role.

"It's a good thing to see police in a different light. It's also nice to
see them in a positive role," she said.

Bomba and Straub were mentioned in a 2001 Plain Dealer investigation of
Parma police overtime use. The two were among five officers dressed as
Santa Claus and his helpers at a DARE fund-raiser at Toys "R" Us. The five
officers claimed a total of 178 hours of overtime. They received $6,600 in
overtime pay for the event, which raised $3,980.

Bomba and Straub will finish out this school year and be reassigned to road
patrol in January 2005.