SF DOING AWAY WITH D.A.R.E. EXPENSES

SENECA FALLS - The village has cut off its financial support for the
school district's Drug Abuse Resistance Education program.

Mayor Diana Smith mailed Superintendent Gerald Macaluso a letter last
Friday saying the village is not willing to continue to incur
excessive overtime costs associated with the program.

She says Police Chief Frederick Capozzi talked to Macaluso a few times
during the past year about cost considerations associated with
continuing the program as it's scheduled.

"That schedule creates an excessive amount of overtime for both the
D.A.R.E. officer and others who cover his absence in the schedule,"
Smith says.

Capozzi declined to comment.

Macaluso, who received the letter Tuesday, said he is looking at
alternate sources to sponsor the program, but wasn't at liberty yet to
say what they were.

"I can fully understand the village's financial condition, and in no
way, fashion or form does the district hold the village responsible
for this situation whatsoever," he said.

Sgt. Chuck Lafler, who has been the district's D.A.R.E. officer for 16
years, said Thursday that he has talked to Smith since learning about
the letter and she has indicated she's willing to look at other options.

On Wednesday, Smith issued an e-mail statement saying "I know the
board shares my gratitude to Sgt. Lafler for his years of dedicated
service as D.A.R.E. officer. He has benefited hundreds of students
with his personal involvement, but after examining the overall costs
which exceeded $12,000 annually, we felt obligated to discontinue our
D.A.R.E. program.

"Having learned that the sheriff's department provides a D.A.R.E.
program that is funded by county taxes, we felt taxpayers should not
pay twice for this service, especially at a time when we are actively
seeking ways to reduce the tax burden."

Lafler said he understands the budget issues, but that Smith agreed
the program would be most effective if delivered by village police; he
said that's best because he knows the kids and their family dynamics,
and they know him.

"Above and beyond the time I'm in the classroom with the kids, I spend
a lot of time with them on the streets and in the home setting,"
Lafler said. "We need to keep in mind that one of the objectives of
the D.A.R.E. program is to involve law enforcement, the parents and
the school district working together to provide an educational
experience that will continue to encourage kids to make good choices.

"With that in mind, the mayor has agreed to take a couple of steps
back to get together with me, school administration and the chief of
police to discuss creative options wherein we can deliver this program."

Sheriff Leo Connolly said his department is willing to help in any way
possible to fill any void.

"We currently have three D.A.R.E. officers who do an excellent job in
the Seneca County schools," he said. They are Kipp Goodman, John
Cleere and Melinda Scego, the latter of whom lives in the village.

"D.A.R.E. is a very important program, and it is frequently a child's
first contact with a police agency ...," Connolly said. "It is a
program designed to help them make the right choices, and it extends
not only through the school, but into their personal lives as well."