PASCO CUTS D.A.R.E., BUT NOT POLICE, AT SCHOOLS

The Pasco School District is scrapping its longtime DARE program this
year but will still provide a police presence at elementary schools.

Pasco police and the school district agreed to convert the existing
DARE officer to a resource officer, who will spend 600 hours in the
city's elementary schools this year.

Among the officer's duties will be to help counselors teach
anti-bullying and anti-harassment programs, which state law requires.

Students can still learn about drug abuse resistance, only it will
likely be included in the health curriculum instead of a separate
program, said Willie Stone, director of educational services.

"It's a mutual benefit for both of us," she said.

A DARE officer has worked in Pasco schools since 1985. The program had
officers working with fifth-grade students to teach the dangers of
drug and alcohol use.

Pasco Police Chief Denis Austin said the program was successful.
Students learned about drug abuse resistance and officers built strong
relationships with the community.

"I've always said that if you reach one kid and convince him that, 'If
you do drugs you'll be unsuccessful,' you've done a good job," he said.

The district agreed to pay $20,000 of the DARE officer's salary for
the work with schools.

In 2002, the state Legislature passed an anti-bullying and
anti-harassment law that required schools to provide educational
programs in those areas.

That meant the voluntary DARE program would have to be cut, but both
sides wanted to keep a police presence at elementary schools, Austin
said. Converting to a school resource officer was the best option, he
said.

"This officer, for the purposes of law enforcement, is going to be our
DARE officer," he said.

The district surveyed parents, students and staff in the past year and
a half regarding what they liked about the DARE program, Stone said.
Officials are using the feedback to help craft a new health program.

The school district will continue to pay $20,000 yearly for the
officer's 600 hours of work. This is the second year of the police
department's two-year contract with the school district for the
officer, Austin said. Pasco middle and high schools already have
resource officers.

The anti-bullying and anti-harassment education will be designed for
older elementary students, not just fifth-graders, Austin said.

Both sides want to expand the program to cover issues like gangs and
peer pressure, but that depends on whether the district can afford
it.

Officials say the district had to eliminate DARE, but the school
resource officer means the police department can still build
relationships with students.

"It is sad on one hand," Stone said. "On the other hand, we're excited
for a new relationship that will reach more people."