CARLYNTON RENEWS INTEREST IN DARE

When Crafton Elementary School chose to participate more than a dozen years
ago, it was one of the first in the suburbs to enroll in something called
the Drug Abuse Resistance Education program, soon to be referred to just
about everywhere as DARE.

Funding problems would eventually force the Carlynton School District to
pull out, much to the disappointment of Police Chief Bud Rost and local DARE
officer Cpt. Paul Tolkacevic.

Now, however, there's a renewed interest by the school district and its
students to reinstate the program that encourages a drug-free lifestyle and
helps build self-esteem and character.

DARE could mark its comeback here in September 2005.

In a Jan. 28 presentation before Crafton council, Wendy Steiner, the
coordinator of Carlynton's gifted education program, said the results of a
recently conducted student survey indicated a need for DARE, especially to
help students deal with bullying and violence.

"There is a need there for it," said Steiner, who referred to Carnegie
police, who conduct DARE at the Carnegie Elementary School.

Seventh-grader Mark Sewell, said the program "helps students make the right
choices" and that graduates of Crafton Elementary were at a disadvantage
when entering junior high school because they didn't have one.

"I welcome the program and hopefully we can move forward with it," Rost said
on Jan. 30, noting that Tolkacevic is interested, too.

Council President Mike Crown also expressed his hopes that DARE will be
offered in Crafton and noted another positive aspect of the program: "It
creates good rapport and respect for police officers."

Carnegie Police Chief Jeff Harbin said Jan. 30 that his department has been
involved in DARE for more than seven years and offers a number of programs
for the elementary and junior high levels. Sgt. Mark Lint, Carnegie's DARE
officer, is also introducing a program to high school students.

"It's been a very popular and beneficial program," said Harbin, who said
funding now is provided through the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and
Delinquency and that a school district must only provide its approval for
the police department to get started.

With or without DARE, Rost said the police department is always willing to
provide programs to the schools upon request.