WILBRAHAM'S DARE UNDER BOARD SCRUTINY

WILBRAHAM - The Board of Selectmen will decide in January whether to
replace the Drug Abuse Resistance Education officer in the
elementary and middle schools.

Police Officer Dennis LaPlante, who has been on sick leave,
anticipates retiring in January.

Selectman Patrick Brady said studies have shown there is no
statistical difference in drug use depending on whether students
have had a DARE program or not.

School Superintendent Paul C. Gagliarducci said it is difficult to
measure the effectiveness of a DARE program.

He said in his opinion, if a program has saved one life, it is effective.

Gagliarducci said it will be up to selectmen whether they want to
pay for a police officer in the schools.

He said the Hampden-Wilbraham Regional School District will offer
drug resistance education whether or not the town funds a police officer.

Gagliarducci said police officers have been a positive presence in
the schools and have been a deterrent to drug use.

The DARE program is anti-drug, anti-violence and anti-bullying,
Gagliarducci said.

He said the programs involves students, parents, educators and
police and tries to teach students good decision-making skills.

Selectmen Chairman David W. Barry said it is difficult to measure
the success of the DARE program.

He said he believes the message is cumulative and there is a point
in a student's life when he may remember the anti-drug message of the program.

Brady said he wants to see the best drug education possible. But he
would like to see one designed with measurable results.

Fogarty said funding for a DARE officer is in the budget. He said
selectmen in January will be asked to authorize hiring a replacement
officer for LaPlante.