PORTSMOUTH PLANS TO CUT DARE CLASSES FROM SCHOOLS

PORTSMOUTH -- A national program to discourage drug use among children has
been cut from the school division's proposed budget. Superintendent David
C. Stuckwisch said the division could not afford to pay $80,000 for the
Drug Abuse Resistance Education program in a year when staff raises are the
focus of a $105.3 million budget.

"There are a number of things we would like to have in the budget that we
just could not afford,'' Stuckwisch told the School Board last week. "And
one of those is the DARE program.''

The program involves law-enforcement officers visiting schools to tell
students about the dangers of drugs. DARE was founded by the Los Angeles
Police Department in 1983, and at one time, it was taught in 75 percent of
the nation's school districts and in 55 countries.

In recent years, DARE has drawn criticism as studies questioned the
program's long-term benefits. Research has suggested that some students who
complete the program grow out of their fears of drugs by the time they
reach their late teens.

In Portsmouth, Sheriff Gary W. Waters introduced the program in 1987, and
until the sheriff's budget was cut three years ago, his office paid for
three deputies who teach DARE.

Portsmouth is now the only local school division that pays salaries for the
law-enforcement officers who teach DARE. In Norfolk and Suffolk, the bill
goes to the police departments. In Virginia Beach, the salaries are
included in the city's budget. Chesapeake cut its DARE program two years
ago after Police Department officials said they could no longer afford to
pay the officers.

Waters said the city should pay for Portsmouth's DARE program if the
schools can't.

"What really bothers me as a citizen and as a parent is they're cutting out
a drug education program. . . but yet the city doesn't have any problem
funding the Todi festival,'' Waters said. "In my opinion, the priority is
education and safety.''

The TodiMusicFest is a festival of cultural events that debuted last year
through city funding and other donations.

The Portsmouth DARE program serves about 1,400 fifth-graders in 20 public
and private schools each year, said Capt. Brenda Lundy, community services
commander for the sheriff's office.

The curriculum consists of a 45-minute class each week for 17 weeks. Four
deputies and a police officer teach students about topics such as drug
abuse, self-esteem and leadership.

State police pay for training and materials with a federal grant, Waters
said. Over the years, the sheriff's office has paid for uniforms and cars
for the deputies.

If DARE is cut, the deputies -- including Waters' daughter -- would be
reassigned, he said.

Stuckwisch said he has no complaints with the program.

"It's a matter of priorities,'' he said. "If we had more time and more
money, we'd probably be OK.''

Topics taught in DARE can be touched upon by guidance counselors and in
health and physical education classes, he said.

That has happened in Chesapeake, where health and gym teachers are now
using a ``life skills training'' curriculum, said Tommy Rhodes, a school
division supervisor.

In Portsmouth, no School Board members commented on the elimination before
approving the budget. The spending plan now goes to the City Council for
funding.

News researcher Jakon Hays contributed to this report.