GRANT MONEY CAN'T FUND DARE NEXT SCHOOL YEAR

Donations Might Be Able To Close Gap

PLYMOUTH -- Plymouth schools should have a Drug Awareness Resistance
Education program again this coming school year, a top administrator
said on Thursday night.

But, he told Plymouth's school board, the corporation will not be able
to pay for the program using the grant money it has in the past.

Dan Tyree, assistant superintendent for the Plymouth Community School
Corp., broke the news during an update he gave on grant applications.
After listening to the update, the board granted permission to apply
for approximately $1.1 million in various grants.

Tyree said that in the past, a Drug-Free Schools and Communities grant
has paid for Plymouth's DARE program. But now, he said, the money
cannot be used to fund DARE, since DARE does not use scientifically
based research.

That means Plymouth will need to rely on community donations if it is
to fund DARE for the 2005-2006 school year, he said, adding he's
confident the local community is behind DARE.

"We feel it is very important having police officers in the school,"
he said, "establishing a bond with the men and woman who protect our
streets."

Plymouth works with Cpl. Mark Owen of the Plymouth Police Department
for its program, he said.

While grant money can't fund DARE this fall, Tyree said, it will, if
given, pay for a student assistance program through Bowen Center, a
social work program that assists youth, and Project PEACE, a junior
high mentoring program.

For more on topics covered during the meeting, see Saturday's Tribune.