DRUG PROGRAM EXPANSION FUNDS SOUGHT

Second Officer's Help Wanted In Oregon Middle Schools

Oregon is hoping to expand its Drug Abuse Resistance Education program with
a second officer who will teach part-time at the city's middle schools.

City Council will consider a measure Monday night to apply for matching
state funds. It's requesting $18,881 to help pay for the salary of officer
Michael Poddany, who teaches the program to students at Coy, Starr, Wynn,
and Jerusalem elementary schools.

Last year the city received $14,028 to help offset the cost of officer
Poddany's pay.

The second officer, Scott Wells, will teach the curriculum part-time at
Fassett Middle School and Eisenhower Middle School, where he is a student
resource officer.

"This is our yearly application for reimbursement for the DARE program,"
Oregon Police Chief Thomas Gulch said. "We are going to supplement the
program and expand beyond the elementary schools into the middle schools."

The city is asking for $1,716 to help cover officer Wells' salary.

"We recognize that the DARE program, which is very active in the elementary
schools, loses its value for the students in the middle schools without
that positive repetitive message to avoid drugs," the chief said.

The city plans to add DARE at Clay High School when the curriculum is
available.

Reviews on use of the DARE program in area schools have been mixed.
Rossford City Council member Molly Jakubec recently said she's disappointed
with results at the high school level. A survey in Rossford schools showed
the program is not as effective with older children. She suggested the city
look into other programs.

The Toledo Police Department stopped its DARE affiliation because of doubts
about its effectiveness and is now involved with a program called Keep A
Clear Mind, which requires parental involvement.

In other business, City Council will consider a five-year contract with
Waste Management of Northwest Ohio in Northwood at $672,720 per year. The
price represents a 32 percent increase over the last five-year contract
with the company, city officials said.

It was the only bid the city received. But the city expressed satisfaction
with the service.