SWIFT KICK FOR D.A.R.E

Despite Cuts, Program Continues in Topsfield, Boxford; Middleton Pursuing
Other Option

The national drug awareness education program known as D.A.R.E. (Drug Abuse
Resistance Education) and the program's questionable future in the Tri-Town
schools was the subject of discussion at last week's joint meeting between
the Tri-Town Elementary School Union and administrators from the Masconomet
Regional School District.

Earlier this year, Acting Gov. Jane Swift axed the program despite protest
from educators and police personnel across the state.

For the 2002-2003 school year the D.A.R.E. program is still in place for
Boxford and Topsfield schools but Middleton was unable to secure any
funding to keep D.A.R.E. running. After this year, the future of the
program is also in question for Boxford and Topsfield.

In the meantime, members of the Tri-Town police departments are working
with school committee members to come up with other options. Tri-Town
Elementary Superintendent Dr. Bernard Creeden said a coalition between the
three towns to run some type of program - even if it is without the actual
D.A.R.E. name - is being discussed. Creeden said that the D.A.R.E.
curriculum was typically introduced in the second half of the school year
so Middleton is still looking into what they could put in its place for 2003.

Police strongly support D.A.R.E.

Middleton Police Chief Paul Armitage said he believes strongly in the
message the D.A.R.E. program gives kids.

"The program serves two purposes: not only does it educate children about
drugs, alcohol and cigarettes but it helps them with good decision-making
skills," he said. "However, due to the state of Massachusetts' tough
financial situation we don't have the money to continue it. When Acting
Gov. Jane Swift cut the funding we had no choice."

Chief Armitage said that in order to continue the program he would have had
to ask taxpayers for more money.

"Children are one of our highest priorities but we also need money for
police personnel which we are also tight on because of the cuts. And with
the world today, we still need funding for training and special equipment
to fight terrorism on a local level. So far we have seen no federal money
for that," said a frustrated Armitage.

Boxford Police Chief Gordon Russell echoed the frustrations of Chief Armitage.

"We had money leftover from previous grants for the D.A.R.E. program which
is why we were able to keep it in place for this, our twelfth year." He
said. "But with the cuts made by Swift there is no way that it is within
our budget to continue the program for next year."

Russell hopes that maybe with the change of administration, Mitt Romney
will make good on his campaign promises to support such initiatives.

"Romney was endorsed by both the Massachusetts Chief of Police Association
and the Massachusetts Police Association - we are hopeful they will help
return some of the grants for these programs."

Russell spoke longingly of the Weld administration when he said initiatives
like D.A.R.E. were strongly supported.

Topsfield Police Chief Dan O'Shea agreed that each of the three towns are
in similar circumstances regarding the loss of grant money and funding for
programs like D.A.R.E.

"Today is actually the first day of this year's D.A.R.E. program in
Topsfield," he said, speaking from his office on Monday.

"I believe in the program and want to continue it but I'm not exactly sure
how yet. It's not all doom and gloom though. I was approached by a
representative from the TESPTO who suggested they may be able to help out
with some funding as they have some discretionary money. So we are still
hopeful we can continue it.

"It's an important program," O'Shea added. "Just the conflict resolution
skills it teaches along with getting communication going between young
people and police officials is vital."

In addition to educating children about the dangers of drugs, Middleton's
Chief Armitage acknowledged the importance of having a uniformed officer
introduced to school children at an early age.

"To not only learn about drugs and decision making but to get to know and
respect the police as someone they could go to if they need help is really
important," he said.

Recently released studies hail the importance of the nationwide D.A.R.E.
program. According to the 2002 Journal of the National Medical Association,
D.A.R.E. students are five times less likely to start smoking than their
counterparts who did not participate in a similar drug awareness program,
and improvements in decision-making and drug and alcohol refusal skills
were cited as well.

Chief Armitage said that the program is popular with parents and teacher's
but that there hasn't been a "huge public outcry" of how to keep the
program going in Middleton. In order to secure the future of the program
for the Tri town schools it will need both public support and financial support.