DISTRICT REPLACES D.A.R.E. PROGRAM

BUFFALO GROVE -- The Aptakisic-Tripp School District 102 Board of Education
announced plans Monday night to replace its D.A.R.E. program with a new
class called C.O.D.E., which stands for Community Organized Drug Education.

C.O.D.E. will involve pupils more and will include more lessons, said
Officer Jim Yester of the Buffalo Grove Police Department.

There will be 30 lessons over a six-week period. Pupils will test out vision
goggles, which simulate the blurred vision of a drunk. They will write a
code of conduct for themselves, and parents will be invited to a family
forum at the school.

Meridian Middle School Principal Susan Mann said the C.O.D.E. program
emphasizes all-around health and relationships, instead of just drugs and
alcohol prevention.

"It causes the students to be more involved," Mann said.

About 100 pupils will participate in a pilot program this spring. All pupils
are expected to participate starting in spring of 2000.