DISTRICT 96 PANEL PROPOSES CHANGES TO DARE PROGRAM

A committee studying Buffalo Grove-Long Grove Elementary District 96's drug
resistance program recommended several changes Tuesday, including possibly
eliminating the program from the third grade.

The committee, consisting of one administrator, three teachers and one
parent, took three months to evaluate the Drug Abuse Resistance Education
and Violence Education and Gang Awareness programs taught by the Buffalo
Grove Police Department.

It came up with the same evaluation that many researchers on the national
level did - "that there is no significant evidence that the program is
successful in deterring young people from substance use," according to a
memo from the committee.

"Are we seeing these same things here?" asked committee Chairman Barbara
Hutton. "Quite frankly, yes we are."

But the memo, which was addressed to Superintendent Thomas W. Many and the
school board, concedes "there is not an alternative program which has been
identified as being any more effective."

Among the recommendations, the committee suggests developing a replacement
program for the six-week program in third grade taught by a police officer
that would instead integrate drug resistance education into the total school
curriculum.

The committee also recommends that in grades 5 and 7, where DARE and VEGA
also are taught, the program objectives be better communicated to parents.

Opportunities for evening meetings and open houses with parents should be
made available for them to get a brief overview of the program where they
also can receive suggestions on how to discuss the topic with their
children, the committee recommended.

Lastly, the committee suggests that an ongoing mechanism be put in place
where consistent feedback from parents, students and teachers can take
place.

The school board will be reviewing the recommendations and decide in the
next month whether to implement them, Hutton said.